Effects of different phases of the lunar month on humans

The moon cycle influences reproductive and productive traits in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) from a tropical Andean area

There is currently innumerable evidence showing that the lunar cycle affects various reproductive aspects in farm animals. However, there is very little information on the effect of the lunar cycle on productive traits in these species. A retrospective study was conducted (2015-2018) to evaluate the influence of the lunar cycle on some reproductive and productive traits in a guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) production system in the southern Andean region of Ecuador. A total of 7352 productive and reproductive records of guinea pig females housed in 3 m2 cages with a breeding male were analyzed. The following variables were considered: offspring sex ratio, litter size per cage, number of weaned guinea pigs, mortality, individual and litter weaning weight of guinea pigs, and calving frequency. The lunar cycle was split into eight periods of ~3.7-d length each. Data were analyzed by logistic regression and general linear model, and means were compared by the least mean squares method of the SAS. The offspring sex ratio was not correlated to the lunar cycle. The lunar cycle at mating and calving influenced the litter size per cage, number of weaned, and mortality of guinea pigs. The individual and litter-weaning weights were influenced by the lunar cycle at calving. The frequency of calving was greater around the new and full moon than in the remaining periods of the lunar cycle. In conclusion, the lunar cycle influenced several productive and reproductive traits in guinea pigs, such as litter size, mortality, number of pups weaned, and individual and litter weaning weights. This valuable information may have practical applications in management of guinea pig production systems.

Is there an association between the lunar phases and hospital admission for different episode types in bipolar disorder? A retrospective study in northern China

The effects of the moon on mental activities remain contentious. Few studies have investigated associations between lunar phases and different types of bipolar disorder (BD) episodes. In the current study, 7,452 patients with BD from three hospitals were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of episode types, and the effects of lunar phase were examined for each type. The cosinor analysis revealed moon-related rhythmicity in admissions for BD in a period of 14.75 days. There were fewer admissions around the new moon and the full moon. There was no significant difference between different groups in acrophase. There was possibly a temporal lag between the onset of BD and hospitalization. Thus, it is too early to draw firm conclusions about the impact of lunar phases on BD. Sleep might be a middle way from moon effect to admissions of BD. These results have implications for future disease prevention strategies and research.

Assessment of effects of moon phases on hospital outpatient visits: An observational national study

Objectives

A vast amount of literature has been conducted for investigating the association of different lunar phases with human health; and it has mixed reviews for association and non-association of diseases with lunar phases. This study investigates the existence of any impact of moon phases on humans by exploring the difference in the rate of outpatient visits and type of diseases that prevail in either non-moon or moon phases.

Methods

We retrieved dates of non-moon and moon phases for eight years (1st January 2001-31st December 2008) from the timeanddate.com website for Taiwan. The study cohort consisted of 1 million people from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) followed over eight years (1st January 2001-31st December 2008). We used the two-tailed, paired-t-test to compare the significance of difference among outpatient visits for 1229 moon phase days and 1074 non-moon phase days by using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes from NHIRD records.

Results

We found 58 diseases that showed statistical differences in number of outpatient visits in the non-moon and moon phases.

Conclusions

The results of our study identified diseases that have significant variations during different lunar phases (non-moon and moon phases) for outpatient visits in the hospital. In order to fully understand the reality of the pervasive myth of lunar effects on human health, behaviors and diseases, more in-depth research investigations are required for providing comprehensive evidence covering all the factors, such as biological, psychological and environmental aspects.

Evidence of circalunar rhythmicity in young children's evening melatonin levels

In adults, recent evidence demonstrates that sleep and circadian physiology change across lunar phases, including findings that endogenous melatonin levels are lower near the full moon compared to the new moon. Here, we extend these results to early childhood by examining circalunar fluctuations in children's evening melatonin levels. We analysed extant data on young children's circadian rhythms (n = 46, aged 3.0-5.9 years, 59% female). After following a strict sleep schedule for 5-7 days, children completed an in-home, dim-light circadian assessment (<10 lux). Salivary melatonin was assessed at regular 20- to 30-min intervals until 1 h past each child's scheduled bedtime. Melatonin levels varied significantly across lunar phases, such that melatonin was lower in participants assessed near the full moon as compared to near the new moon. Significant differences were observed at 50 min (meanfull  = 2.5 pg/ml; meannew  = 5.4 pg/ml) and 10 min (meanfull  = 7.3 pg/ml; meannew  = 15.8 pg/ml) before children's scheduled bedtime, as well as at 20 min (meanfull  = 15.5 pg/ml; meannew  = 26.1 pg/ml) and 50 min (meanfull  = 19.9 pg/ml; meannew  = 34.3 pg/ml) after bedtime. To our knowledge, these are the first data demonstrating that melatonin secretion, a process regulated by the human circadian system, is sensitive to changes in lunar phase at an early age. Future research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying this association (e.g., an endogenous circalunar rhythm) and its potential influence on children's sleep and circadian health.

Don't Blame It on the Moon

Aim: There is a longstanding, popular belief that the lunar cycle has an impact on human behavior. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in behavior amongst psychiatric patients at a mental health facility over a 7-year period in comparison to the lunar cycle. Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted using behavioral occurrence reports from a hospital database for a 252-bed adult psychiatric hospital in Canada. There were 7,153 behavioral occurrences during the study period across 627,763 patient days. Results: Occurrences varied greatly by lunar day, with peaks above the average for some days and dips below for others, while maintaining the average for the rest of the lunar days; however, no specific pattern was observed and the variation was not statistically significant. The popular notion that a full moon arouses behavioral disturbances was not supported in this analysis of psychiatric inpatients. Clinical Implications: The belief that the full moon causes escalating behaviors should be critically evaluated by healthcare providers as it may contribute to further stigmatization of individuals with mental illness.

The influence of lunar cycle at the time of conception on sex offspring distribution in dogs

The effect of seasonal variation and lunar cycles on reproductive parameters in dogs is unknown. Lunar cycles have important effects on several biological events. Controversy exists about the influence of lunar cycles on offspring sex ratio. This study examined the sex offspring distribution of 973 puppies (48% females and 52% males) from 150 bitches in Italy between 2015 and 2020. A two-way ANOVA followed by post-hoc t-test (Bonferroni correction) was used to analyze the influence of season and lunar phase on offspring sex ratio at conception. Sex offspring distribution was not affected by season, whereas lunar phase had a significant effect (p< .05). During the new moon, the proportion of male puppies born was significantly lower than during the full moon phase (p < .05). We conclude that season had no effect on sex offspring distribution. The new moon phase at conception appeared to be related to a lower male sex ratio at birth. Further studies assessing additional factors will help provide a better understanding of the lunar cycle differences observed in the sex ratio distribution of dogs.

Lunar Phases and Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions: Application of the Lunar Disk Percentage Method

Simple Summary

The moon is ubiquitous in the night sky and considered an important abiotic factor that influences animal activity. However, little is known about the relationship between moonlight and the daily, monthly, or seasonal frequency of wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVCs). Traditionally, the influence of moonlight on WVCs has been analyzed using the lunar phase (quarters) approach, which evaluates moonlight on a rough scale (only four 25% steps of the visible moon disc and a strict arrangement of phases over time). We used a different approach; we compared WVCs to the actual lunar disc illumination that is based on the specific daily percentage of the visible lunar disk (LDP). Our findings indicated a significant trend of increasing WVC frequencies with increasing LDP at night. We also examined the correlation between the daily numbers of WVCs and LDP for different months and seasons. Positive correlations between LDP and WVCs were stronger at night and during the late autumn–winter months, particularly in December, suggesting the importance of lunar illumination on WVCs. Our study suggests that the LDP approach may provide more possibilities for the evaluation and quantification of WVCs and lunar light relationships than the traditional lunar phase approach. The results can be useful for predicting and reducing WVCs at different times of the lunar illumination cycle and in different seasons.

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between lunar illumination based on the percentage of the visible lunar disk (LDP) and the frequency of wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVCs) in Lithuania. We analyzed WVC frequency during ten 10% LDP intervals to more precisely reflect the relationship between LDP and WVC. The 10% LDP interval approach showed a significant trend of increasing WVC frequencies with an increasing LDP at night. We also examined the correlation between the daily numbers of WVCs and LDP for different months and seasons. The relationship seemed to be stronger at night and during the late autumn–winter months, particularly in December, suggesting the importance of lunar illumination on WVCs. There was a weak positive correlation between LDP and overall daily number of WVCs (r_s = 0.091; p < 0.001) and between LDP and night WVCs (r_s = 0.104; p < 0.001). We found significant positive correlations for winter (December–February) (r_s = 0.118; p = 0.012) and autumn (August–November) (r_s = 0.127; p = 0.007). Our study suggests that the LDP interval approach may provide more possibilities for the evaluation and quantification of WVCs and lunar light relationships than the traditional lunar phase approach.

Lunar Cycle Influences Reproductive Performance of Crossbred Brahman Cows Under Tropical Conditions

Evidence has accumulated over the years indicating that the moon influences some aspects of the reproductive activity in animals and humans. However, little is known about the influence of the lunar cycle on the reproductive performance of cows under tropical conditions, where the environment strongly affects reproduction. This retrospective study was conducted with the aim of assessing the influence of the lunar cycle on some reproductive traits of tropical crossbred cows managed in a pasture-based system. Data from 5869 reproductive records from two commercial farms localized in the Maracaibo Lake Basin of Zulia State, Venezuela, were analyzed. Variables studied were first service conception rate, calving frequency, first postpartum estrous frequency, and pregnancy frequency. In addition to the lunar cycle, the effects of farm, season, and predominant breed were also considered. Data were analyzed using logistic regression and general linear model from SAS. First service conception was affected by lunar phases and predominant breed, but not by farm or season. For frequencies of calving, first postpartum estrus, and pregnancy, there was no main effect of farm, season, and predominant breed, whereas the effect of lunar phases was highly significant. First service conception was significantly greater in waning than in crescent phase of the lunar cycle. Frequencies of calving, first estrus, and pregnancy were highly correlated and showed greater figures around full moon and new moon. In conclusion, lunar cycle influenced first service conception, attaining greater values in the waning phase of the moon cycle. Frequencies of calving, first postpartum estrus, and pregnancy in crossbred cows showed a clear bimodal rhythm, whose greatest values coincided with new moon and full moon.

Does lunar synodic cycle affect the rates of psychiatric hospitalizations and sentinel events?

The lunar synodic cycle is often believed to be associated with psychiatric emergencies and exacerbation in various countries, including India. However, the scientific literature regarding this matter is inconclusive. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between lunar cycle phase and admission rates plus occurrence of sentinel events in the psychiatric ward of a tertiary care general hospital in India. All admissions and transfer-ins (N = 780) to the Department of Psychiatry between August 1st, 2016 and July 31st, 2017 were evaluated from hospital records by a blinded author to obtain sentinel events, like requirement of physical restraint (PR) and chemical restraint (CR), occurring on full moon days (FM), new moon days (NM), and control days (CD). Statistical analysis was done by comparison of proportions. Significant positive differences were found when CR applied exclusively [p = .0008] on FM and NM days, and its frequency [p < .0001] in comparison to CD. Frequencies of parenteral [p = .0001] and per oral [p = .0064] modes of CR applied on FM and NM days showed significant positive results when compared with CD. Use of all restraints (PR plus CR) [p = .0017] and their frequencies [p < .0001] on FM and NM days were also positively significant. Sentinel events, such as use of restraints, especially chemical ones, in psychiatry in-patients are significantly more common during full moon and new moon phases.

Effects of lunar cycle on fasting plasma glucose, heart rate and blood pressure in type 2 diabetic patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of lunar phases on fasting plasma glucose, heart rate, and blood pressure in type 2 diabetic patients. The present cross-sectional study was carried out during four phases, i.e., full moon (FM), first quarter (FQ), new moon (NM), and third quarter (TQ), of the lunar month. The study was conducted on 42 randomly selected patients (22 males and 20 females) from the Diabetes Clinic of Calcutta Medical College. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of each subject was determined and heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were measured at rest and during static exercise conditions, i.e., performance of a standard handgrip dynamometer test. The FPG level during the NM and FM was significantly higher (p < .001) than during the TQ and FQ for both males and females, respectively. The mean HR during static exercise during the NM and FM for both males and females was significantly higher than that during the FQ (p < .05) and TQ (p < .01). It appears from the present study that lunar phases may affect fasting plasma glucose level and cardiovascular functions of aged type 2 diabetic patients both at rest and during exercise.

Tidal variations of background ionizing radiation and circadian timing of the suprachiasmatic nucleus clock

Recently, correlations of different physiological processes in humans with variations in the local lunisolar gravitational tide force have been observed under highly controlled laboratory conditions. Understanding of the physical nature of this phenomenon needs a comprehensive study of its possible molecular mechanisms. One of the possible timing cues is the strong periodic variation of the emanation fields of radon-222 and its progeny produced by tidal deformations of geological environment. In the present work, we argue that this variation could induce temporal modulation of radiation-induced bystander signaling pathways associated with fundamental regulators of gene expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus clock.

Are there effects of lunar cycle on pediatric febrile seizure?: A single-center retrospective study (2005-2018)

BACKGROUND

Several studies have reported an association between seizure and the lunar cycle; however, results are conflicting. Thus, we investigated whether emergency department (ED) visits due to febrile seizure (FS) or FS plus were affected by lunar cycle.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of patients who were admitted to the ED with a main diagnosis of FS or FS plus from January 1, 2005 to August 31, 2018 (13 years 8 months), a period of 4991 days with 169 lunar cycles. During that period, we collected weather data such as mean temperature, average atmospheric pressure (AP), and humidity according to lunar phase (new moon, first quarter, full moon, and third or last quarter).

RESULTS

A total of 1979 patients were identified. We found male predominant with a mean age of 2.62 ± 2.09 years. Acute pharyngotonsillitis was the most common cause of fever, generalized tonic-clonic seizure was the most common type of seizure, and the mean peak body temperature was 38.77 ± 0.81 °C. The lunar cycle did not affect the onset or frequency of FS after adjustment; however, several factors, including season, O₃ and NO₂ concentrations, and holidays, were associated with FS.

CONCLUSION

We did not find an association between lunar cycle and FS or FS plus. However, several factors, including season, O₃, NO₂, and holidays were associated with FS or FS plus.

No association of moon phase with stroke occurrence

Stroke occurrence shows strong correlations with sleep disorders and even subtle sleep disturbances have been shown to affect ischemic stroke (IS) occurrence. Chronobiology also exerts effects, like the morning surge in IS occurrence. Lunar cycles have also been shown to affect sleep and other physiological processes, but studies on moon phases and its possible association with occurrence of stroke are rare and nonconclusive. Therefore, we studied the effects of moon phases on stroke hospitalizations and in-hospital mortality nationwide in Finland in 2004-2014. All patients aged ≥18 years with IS or intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) as primary discharge diagnosis were included. Daily number of admissions was treated as a response variable while moon phase, year and astronomical season were independent variables in Poisson regression modeling. We found no association between moon phases and stroke occurrence. The overall occurrence rates did not vary between different moon phases for IS or ICH (p = 0.61 or higher). There were no differences between moon phases in daily admission rates among men, women, young and old patients for any of the stroke subtypes. There was no difference in in-hospital mortality with regard to moon phase for IS or ICH overall (p = 0.19 or higher), nor in subgroup analyses. There were no significant interactions between moon phase and astronomical season for stroke occurrence or in-hospital mortality. To conclude, in this over a decade-long nationwide study including a total of 46 million person years of follow-up, we found no association between moon phases and occurrence or in-hospital mortality rates of IS or intracerebral hemorrhage.

The Counterbalance of Skin Metabolism on Orbits and Diseases

Human organ functions are regulated by the nervous system. When human cells receive a message, this message is transmitted to the nervous system through a series of signal transmission processes. Skin conditions that occur after applying skin cream are closely related to signal transmission and nervous regulation. We determined the connection between signal regulation and natural rhythmic operations. The diurnal variations resulting from the earth’s rotation and indicate the relative relationships between the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nerve system. A spectrum was developed to assess neural transmission conditions by using skin signals which from Fourier transformation of the waves and established the association between the spectrum and diseases. The results could explain the relationships between the neurological illnesses and established spectrum. The objective was to promote the use of this spectrum as a new tool for conducting the nervous system tests in the future.