The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has revealed that the pill which is usually given to treat impotence could be "useful in other circadian disorders that involve poor synchronization with the environment, including delayed sleep-phase syndrome and adaptation to changing light schedules."
The research, which until now has been carried out in male hamsters, showed positive results after small amount of drug was injected in them. AFP reports that the researchers at Argentina's National University at Quilmes in Buenos Aires switched off the lights six hours earlier, which is compared with taking an eastbound flight from the Americas to Europe.
The study added that hamsters receiving a dose of the drug adapted 20-50 percent more quickly to the new schedule than others. Sildenafil interferes with an enzyme that reduces the levels of cyclic guanine monophosphate (cGMP) in the brain, which helps regulate circadian rhythm, the body's inner clock.
However, changes in cGMP levels do not slow down the body clock. Hence the drug did not help hamsters cope with time shifts that simulate westbound flights. Viagra offers no jet lag protection for hamsters when their period of light exposure is adjusted to begin after the normal time.
