OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of sleep architecture and blood oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) during sleep in men living at high altitude, and to investigate the effect of rhodiola and acetazolamide on these sleep indexes. METHODS:Twenty-four men aged 18 to 21 years who had stayed at high altitude (5 380 m above sea level) for 1 year were randomly divided into groups A (treated with oral rhodiola), B (treated with oral acetazolamide) and C (treated with rhodiola + acetazolamide). Their sleep architecture and SaO(2) were recorded for 24 days before and after taking the medicines. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, the waking SaO(2) (WSaO(2)), the lowest SaO(2) (LSaO(2)) and the mean SaO(2) (MSaO(2)) were increased significantly after treatment for 24 days (P < 0.01), and the times of oxygen desaturation >/= 4% per hour (DI4) and the percentage of time spent at SaO(2) below 80% (SIT(80)) were decreased significantly (P < 0.01). After treatment, the NREM I and II was shortened, and III + IV and REM sleep were prolonged (P < 0.01): the total waking time (TWT) was shortened, and the sleep efficiency index (SEI) was markedly increased (P < 0.01). Compared with group A's, groups B's and C's SIT(80) were increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both rhodiola and acetazolamide were effective in modulating the sleep architecture and improving the sleep quality in young men living at high altitude, but there was no synergistic effect between rhodiola and acetazolamide.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of sleep architecture and blood oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) during sleep in men living at high altitude, and to investigate the effect of rhodiola and acetazolamide on these sleep indexes. METHODS: Twenty-four men aged 18 to 21 years who had stayed at high altitude (5 380 m above sea level) for 1 year were randomly divided into groups A (treated with oral rhodiola), B (treated with oral acetazolamide) and C (treated with rhodiola + acetazolamide). Their sleep architecture and SaO(2) were recorded for 24 days before and after taking the medicines. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, the waking SaO(2) (WSaO(2)), the lowest SaO(2) (LSaO(2)) and the mean SaO(2) (MSaO(2)) were increased significantly after treatment for 24 days (P < 0.01), and the times of oxygen desaturation >/= 4% per hour (DI4) and the percentage of time spent at SaO(2) below 80% (SIT(80)) were decreased significantly (P < 0.01). After treatment, the NREM I and II was shortened, and III + IV and REM sleep were prolonged (P < 0.01): the total waking time (TWT) was shortened, and the sleep efficiency index (SEI) was markedly increased (P < 0.01). Compared with group A's, groups B's and C's SIT(80) were increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both rhodiola and acetazolamide were effective in modulating the sleep architecture and improving the sleep quality in young men living at high altitude, but there was no synergistic effect between rhodiola and acetazolamide.