Melatonin production in infants

Tauman, Riva; Zisapel, Nava; Laudon, Moshe; Nehama, Haim; Sivan, Yakov

doi:10.1016/s0887-8994(01)00417-9

Cited by 42 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Although melatonin has neuroprotective properties in other models [6,41,46] , it is possible that the changes in melatonin observed by Tauman et al [45] may be a consequence of disorders affecting the infant rather than having a pathogenetic role.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…On the other hand, the probability that melatonin acts as a neuroprotector after birth is reinforced by the observation that low melatonin excretion in the first weeks of life correlates with delayed psychomotor achievements at 3 and 6 months of age [45] . Although melatonin has neuroprotective properties in other models [6,41,46] , it is possible that the changes in melatonin observed by Tauman et al [45] may be a consequence of disorders affecting the infant rather than having a pathogenetic role.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Melatonin Levels during the First Week of Life and Their Relation with the Antioxidant Response in the Perinatal Period

et al. 2007

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Aim: Melatonin is a potent free radical scavenger and an indirect antioxidant. Knowledge about the behavior of melatonin secretion in the early neonatal period, which may relate to its properties at a vital stage during very high antioxidant demands, is limited. Patients and Methods: We studied 35 newborns admitted to the Neonatal Unit with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and with no signs of sepsis, severe anemia, hemodynamic compromise or malformation. The gestational age of the newborns was 26–40 weeks (mean value 32.5 weeks) and the weight at birth was 870–4,400 g (mean value 1,800 g). They were classified into two groups: ≤1,500 g or >1,500 g birthweight. In all cases, at 09:00 h on their 1st, 3rd and 7th days of life, serum melatonin was measured by RIA. The clinical history was recorded and treatment and follow-up were performed according to established neonatology practice, and the resultant data recorded. Informed consent from the parents or guardians was obtained in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Statistical analysis was carried out using ANOVA-II (factor I: day of sample; factor II: birthweight). Results: There were significant increases in melatonin levels with increasing birthweight (p = 0.017), but no changes by day of sample. Although in both study groups melatonin levels increased during the first few days this was not statistically significant. Conclusions: In newborns of low birthweight, we report high melatonin concentrations in the morning and during the first week of life. These increase with maturation, and at full-term were similar to nocturnal levels during the acrophase of pineal gland secretion in toddlers and schoolage children, when pineal gland secretion is maximal and takes place reflecting environmental variations. In the early neonatal period these high levels of melatonin seem to derive from extrapineal sources, which mature to provide antioxidant protection in accordance with other elements of the antioxidant network to compensate for the high levels of oxidative stress that are present in the perinatal period.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Melatonin Levels during the First Week of Life and Their Relation with the Antioxidant Response in the Perinatal Period

et al. 2007

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“…Interestingly, maternal melatonin production increases throughout pregnancy [Nakamura et al, 2001]. Newborns do not produce significant amounts of melatonin until 6 months after birth [Tauman et al, 2002]. Thus, during fetal development and in early life there is a relative deficiency of melatonin.…”

Section: Discussion Melatonin Suppression By Magnetic Fieldsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do magnetic fields cause increased risk of childhood leukemia via melatonin disruption?

Henshaw

Reíter

2005

Bioelectromagnetics

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Epidemiological studies have reported associations between exposure to power frequency magnetic fields and increased risk of certain cancer and noncancer illnesses. For childhood leukemia, a doubling of risk has been associated with exposures above 0.3/0.4 microT. Here, we propose that the melatonin hypothesis, in which power frequency magnetic fields suppress the nocturnal production of melatonin in the pineal gland, accounts for the observed increased risk of childhood leukemia. Such melatonin disruption has been shown in animals, especially with exposure to electric and/or rapid on/off magnetic fields. Equivocal evidence has been obtained from controlled laboratory magnetic field exposures of volunteers, although the exposure conditions are generally atypical of neighborhood exposures. In contrast, support for the hypothesis is found in the body of studies showing magnetic field disruption of melatonin in human populations chronically exposed to both electric and magnetic fields associated with electricity distribution. Further support comes from the observation that melatonin is highly protective of oxidative damage to the human haemopoietic system. Aspects of the hypothesis are amenable to further investigation.

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“…A further development in sleep organization characterized by increased SWS and coupling with the circadian timekeeping system takes place during the first 6 months of life in both term and preterm infants [116]. Low melatonin excretion in the first weeks of life correlates with delayed psychomotor achievements at 3 and 6 months of age [122]. Melatonin production increases at about the same time that REM abundance decreases in infants.…”

Section: Sleep In Brain Development and Agingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sleep and sleep disturbances: biological basis and clinical implications

Zisapel

2007

Cell. Mol. Life Sci.

172

120

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Sleep is a neurochemical process involving sleep promoting and arousal centers in the brain. Sleep performs an essential restorative function and facilitates memory consolidation in humans. The remarkably standardized bouts of consolidated sleep at night and daytime wakefulness reflect an interaction between the homeostatic sleep need that is manifested by increase in sleep propensity after sleep deprivation and decrease during sleep and the circadian pacemaker. Melatonin, the hormone produced nocturnally by the pineal gland, serves as a time cue and sleep-anticipating signal. A close interaction exists between the sleep-wake, melatonin, core temperature, blood pressure, immune and hormonal rhythms leading to optimization of the internal temporal order. With age the robustness of the circadian system decreases and the prevalence of sleep disorders, particularly insomnia, increases. Deviant sleep patterns are associated with increased risks of morbidity, poor quality of life and mortality. Current sleep pharmacotherapies treat insufficient sleep quantity, but fail to improve daytime functioning. New treatment modalities for sleep disorders that will also improve daytime functioning remain a scientific and medical challenge.

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Melatonin production in infants

Cited by 42 publications

References 18 publications

Melatonin Levels during the First Week of Life and Their Relation with the Antioxidant Response in the Perinatal Period

Melatonin Levels during the First Week of Life and Their Relation with the Antioxidant Response in the Perinatal Period

Do magnetic fields cause increased risk of childhood leukemia via melatonin disruption?

Sleep and sleep disturbances: biological basis and clinical implications

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