Can we believe results obtained from plasma melatonin ELISA kits?

Kennaway, David J.

doi:10.1080/07420528.2021.1886112

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…When assessing DLMO in the laboratory, there are a number of methodological issues that need to be considered; what assay to use for the melatonin measurement an what objective method to use to determine when melatonin secretion has started. With respect to the first point, I have written several reviews recently about melatonin assays in which I have criticized many of the ELISA that have appeared on the market in the last 10–15 years [ 6–10 , 97 , 98 ]. Poor assay design, specificity, and sensitivity have meant that many are incapable of reporting valid daytime melatonin levels in saliva or plasma.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is clear that to accurately determine saliva DLMO, RIA, and ELISA kits from Buhlmann/NovoLytiX and IBL and ELISA kits from Salimetrics are to be preferred over other kits. Note, however, that the ELISA kits from small companies can still cause problems in saliva [ 98 ], especially when used for direct (nonextracted) assay of plasma melatonin [ 6–10 , 97 , 98 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the early human studies, melatonin was found to circulate in the blood at night at low concentrations (<100 pg/mL). This provided some serious methodological issues to overcome which have been discussed in depth recently [ 6–10 ]. Nevertheless, in 1989, it was reported that measurement of plasma melatonin using a sensitive Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) assay could be used to determine the circadian phase of humans [ 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The dim light melatonin onset across ages, methodologies, and sex and its relationship with morningness/eveningness

Kennaway

2023

Sleep

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The onset of melatonin secretion, the Dim Light Melatonin Onset or DLMO is a tool for determining the phase of the circadian timing system. While small studies have investigated the impacts of age and methods of calculating DLMO, there is no DLMO reference range. In the current study, the saliva DLMO from 121 published studies (3579 subjects) and plasma DLMO in 31 studies (818 subjects) in healthy control subjects (3 - 73 years) were analysed. In a subset of 53 papers (1749 subjects) individual saliva DLMO and MEQ scores were obtained from authors or mined from publications and a reference range was constructed. Saliva DLMO was earliest in children to 10 years of age and latest around 20 years of age and thereafter advanced with age by 30 minutes in the oldest subjects. Melatonin assay methods and DLMO calculation methods had little effect on the determination of the DLMO. Saliva DLMO was correlated (P < 0.001) with the MEQ score; lower MEQ scores were associated with later DLMO. MEQ scores increased with age, reflecting a tendency towards Morningness. An evaluation of 14 saliva DLMO studies of clinically diagnosed DSWPD patients (mean ages 20 to 31 years) revealed mean saliva DLMO within the reference range albeit at the late extreme. Peak plasma melatonin levels from 179 studies of healthy subjects revealed a high degree of variability within studies and age groups, but only a small decline between the 20 and 50 years and lowest levels after 70 years.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The dim light melatonin onset across ages, methodologies, and sex and its relationship with morningness/eveningness

Kennaway

2023

Sleep

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“…In Erythrobacter longus , Tilden et al [ 99 ] reported the presence of melatonin by using a radioimmunoassay, although there is reason to be cautious when using immunoassay melatonin by radioimmunoassay in complex matrices [ 2 , 104 ].…”

Section: Some Proposed Mechanisms Behind the Claimed Beneficial Effec...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Melatonin: Facts, Extrapolations and Clinical Trials

2023

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Melatonin is a fascinating molecule that has captured the imagination of many scientists since its discovery in 1958. In recent times, the focus has changed from investigating its natural role as a transducer of biological time for physiological systems to hypothesized roles in virtually all clinical conditions. This goes along with the appearance of extensive literature claiming the (generally) positive benefits of high doses of melatonin in animal models and various clinical situations that would not be receptor-mediated. Based on the assumption that melatonin is safe, high doses have been administered to patients, including the elderly and children, in clinical trials. In this review, we critically review the corresponding literature, including the hypotheses that melatonin acts as a scavenger molecule, in particular in mitochondria, by trying not only to contextualize these interests but also by attempting to separate the wheat from the chaff (or the wishful thinking from the facts). We conclude that most claims remain hypotheses and that the experimental evidence used to promote them is limited and sometimes flawed. Our review will hopefully encourage clinical researchers to reflect on what melatonin can and cannot do and help move the field forward on a solid basis.

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