Jet lag

Herxheimer et al., 2014 | BMJ Clin Evid | Systematic Review

Citation

Herxheimer Andrew. Jet lag. BMJ Clin Evid. 2014-Apr-29;2014

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Jet lag is a syndrome caused by disruption of the 'body clock', and affects most air travellers crossing five or more time zones; it is worse on eastward than on westward flights. METHODS AND OUTCOMES: We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of interventions to prevent or minimise jet lag? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to January 2014 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). RESULTS: We found five studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions. CONCLUSIONS: In this systematic review, we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: hypnotics, lifestyle and environmental adaptations, and melatonin.

Key Findings

We found five studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.

Outcomes Measured

Requires manual extraction

Population

Field	Value
Population	See abstract
Sample Size	See abstract
Age Range	See abstract
Condition	See abstract

MeSH Terms

Antioxidants
Humans
Hypnotics and Sedatives
Jet Lag Syndrome
Life Style
Melatonin
Safety

Evidence Classification

Level: Systematic Review
Publication Types: Journal Article, Systematic Review
Vertical: melatonin

Provenance

PMID: 24780537
DOI: (not available)
PMCID: PMC4006102
Verified: 2026-04-09 via PubMed E-utilities API

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09