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Chronobiology International
The Journal of Biological and Medical Rhythm Research
Volume 38, 2021 - Issue 6
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Original Articles

Does lunar cycle affect biological parameters in young healthy men?

ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon, , , , & ORCID Icon show all
Pages 933-940 | Received 04 Nov 2020, Accepted 25 Feb 2021, Published online: 28 Mar 2021
 

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess the effects of the lunar cycle on diurnal variation of biological, i.e, hormonal, biochemical, and hematological, profiles of diurnally active healthy men. Blood samples of 20 males were collected on four occasions [full moon (FM) and new moon (NM), in the morning (06:00–07:00 h) and evening (19:00–20:00 h)]. The results showed that melatonin and testosterone levels and neutrophils count were lower during the FM as compared to the NM in the morning (p < .001; d = 4.13, p < .001; d = 3.84, p < .01; d = 0.77, respectively) and evening (p < .001; d = 6.36, p < .001; d = 4.03, p < .05; d = 1.07, respectively) samples. However, cortisol level was higher during the FM compared to the NM, in the morning (p < .001; d = 0.74) and evening (p < .001; d = 3.54). Hemoglobinemia was higher only in the evening during the FM compared to the evening of the NM (p < .01; d = 1.22). In summary, this study confirmed that lunar cycle can affect human biological parameters independently of time of day.

Acknowledgements

Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library.

The authors wish to express their sincere gratitude to all participants for their efforts which helped in completion of this study.

Declaration of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

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