Light-Induced Melatonin Suppression in
Humans With Polychromatic and Monochromatic Light.
Revell VL and Skene DJ.
Chronobiology International, Nov 2007; 24(6): 1125–1137
"The ability of polychromatic white light and monochromatic blue light (max 479 nm) matched for melanopsin stimulating photons to suppress nocturnal melatonin production was compared...a comparison of the two light conditions revealed a significantly enhanced response to polychromatic light."
"In conclusion, the current study has demonstrated the melatonin suppression response to polychromatic [white] light is enhanced compared to monochromatic [blue 479 nm] light matched in terms of melanopsin stimulation. This suggests that the response to polychromatic light cannot be predicted from the melanopsin photosensory spectral sensitivity and that it is not solely melanopsin that drives the melatonin suppression response.."
OUR NOTE: While the unadjusted irradiance (light intensity) from the polychromatic [i.e. white] light source used in this study is, by photon count or energy, between 2 ½ and 3 times that of the blue light, the white light was more effective at suppressing melatonin than the monochromatic blue (479 nm) light. In comparison, Sunnex Biotechnologies Lo-LIGHT has been found to be as effective as white light with 20 times as much irradiance (light intensity).
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