A randomized clinical trial of valerian fails to improve self-reported, polysomnographic, and actigraphic sleep in older women with insomnia

Taibi, Diana M.; Vitiello, Michael V.; Barsness, Suzanne; Elmer, Gary W.; Anderson, Gail D.; Landis, Carol A.

doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2008.02.001

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Volume 10, Issue 3 , Pages 319-328, March 2009

A randomized clinical trial of valerian fails to improve self-reported, polysomnographic, and actigraphic sleep in older women with insomnia☆

Diana M. Taibi
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing & Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Box 357266, Seattle, WA 98195-7262, USA
Michael V. Vitiello
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Suzanne Barsness
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Gary W. Elmer
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Gail D. Anderson
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing & Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Box 357266, Seattle, WA 98195-7262, USA
Carol A. Landis
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing & Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Box 357266, Seattle, WA 98195-7262, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 206 616 1908; fax: +1 206 543 4771.

Received 2 November 2007; received in revised form 30 January 2008; accepted 5 February 2008.

Abstract

Objective

To test the effects of nightly valerian (Valeriana officinalis) extract to improve sleep of older women with insomnia.

Methods

Participants in this phase 2 randomized, double-blind, crossover controlled trial were 16 older women (mean age=69.4±8.1 years) with insomnia. Participants took 300mg of concentrated valerian extract or placebo 30min before bedtime for 2 weeks. Sleep was assessed in the laboratory by self-report and polysomnography (PSG) at baseline and again at the beginning and end of each treatment phase (total of nine nights in the laboratory) and at home by daily sleep logs and actigraphy.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences between valerian and placebo after a single dose or after 2 weeks of nightly dosing on any measure of sleep latency, wake after sleep onset (WASO), sleep efficiency, and self-rated sleep quality. In comparing each treatment to baseline in separate comparisons, WASO significantly increased (+17.7±25.6min, p=.02) after 2 weeks of nightly valerian, but not after placebo (+6.8±26.4min, NS). Side effects were minor and did not differ significantly between valerian and placebo.

Conclusion

Valerian did not improve sleep in this sample of older women with insomnia. Findings from this study add to the scientific evidence that does not support use of valerian in the clinical management of insomnia.

Keywords: Valerian, Women, Aging, Phytotherapy, Sleep, Insomnia, Complementary therapies, Alternative medicine