抄録
Purpose: Since the articulation panel (Aural SonicR) has a characteristic of absorbing unpleasant sound and leaving a comfortable sound, stress reduction and relaxation effects are expected. In this study, we examined the effect of the installation of the articulator panel (test product) in the bedroom on sleep quality using the melatonin metabolite 6-sulfatoxy-melatonin (SaMT) as an index.
Methods: The first trial was an uncontrolled open pilot study of 10 male students (26.4 ± 8.7 years), in which a test panel was set up in the bedroom at home. The second trial was performed as a controlled shift comparison trial of 6 male and one female students (27.3 ± 11.6 years), in which SaMT was measured at a training camp facility with a constant sleep environment while monitoring illuminance and temperature with a sleep environment measurement device, then the effect between the control and test panel was compared.
Results: In the first trial, the amount of urine discharged SaMT during the night was −13.4% lower when using the test panel (p = 0.046), which was determined to be due to the difference in illumination conditions. In the second test, it was confirmed that illuminance and temperature were constant, the 24-hour urinary SaMT concentration was significantly higher (+54.7%) when using the test panel (38.2 ± 5.6 ng/mL) than when using the control panel (24.7 ± 2.3 ng/mL, p = 0.028).
Conclusion: It was suggested that the installation of the articulation panel in the bedroom could improve the sleep quality with increased melatonin excretion, due to the reduction of unpleasant noise, improving sleep environment. Since melatonin secretion is affected by the sleep environment, it is necessary to evaluate it under constant conditions such as room temperature and illuminance.
