The Influence of Age, Sex, Height, Weight, Urine Volume and Latitude on Melatonin Concentrations in Urine from Normal Subjects: A Multinational Study

Wetterberg, Lennart; Eberhard, Göran; Knorring, Lars von; Kohan, M.A.; Ylipää, Eva; Rutz, Wolfgang; Bratlid, Trond; Lacoste, Verena; Thompson, Christopher; Yanagawa, Hiroshi; Rosenthal, Norman E.; McGuire, Michael T.; Polleri, A; Freedman, Marga; Morton, Dougal J.; Redman, Jenny; Berigannaki, Joanne D.; Shaprio, Colin; Driver, Helen S.; Yuwiler, Arthur

doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-042279-4.50023-6

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Season of the year is known to affect the nocturnal rise in melatonin (16), due presumably to seasonal shifts in the time of the nocturnal peak in melatonin (26). Increasing age was significantly associated with lower melatonin levels, a finding consistent with some previous studies (27,28) but not all (29). Consumption of alcohol was associated with lower melatonin levels, consistent with findings in rats (30,31) and humans (32,33).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Residential Magnetic Fields, Light-at-Night, and Nocturnal Urinary 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin Concentration in Women

Davis

Kaune

Mirick

et al. 2001

American Journal of Epidemiology

108

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Exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields may increase breast cancer risk by suppressing the normal nocturnal rise in melatonin. This 1994 Washington State study investigated whether such exposure was associated with lower nocturnal urinary concentration of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin in 203 women aged 20-74 years with no history of breast cancer. Each woman was interviewed and provided data on the following for a 72-hour period at two different seasons of the year: 1) magnetic field and ambient light measured every 30 seconds in her bedroom, 2) personal magnetic field measured at 30-second intervals, and 3) complete nighttime urine samples on three consecutive nights. Lower nocturnal urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin level was associated with more hours of daylight, older age, higher body mass index, current alcohol consumption, and current use of medications classified as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, or psychotropics. After adjustment for these factors, higher bedroom magnetic field level was associated with significantly lower urinary concentration of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin during the same night, primarily in women who used these medications and during times of the year with the fewest hours of darkness. These results suggest that exposure to nighttime residential 60-Hz magnetic fields can depress the normal nocturnal rise in melatonin. It has been suggested that exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields may increase the risk of breast cancer by suppressing the normal nocturnal rise in melatonin production and release (1), thereby resulting in increased levels of circulating estrogen. Several lines of inquiry have been pursued to investigate a possible link between pineal function, circulating estrogen level, and breast cancer risk (summarized by Stevens and Davis and by Brainard et al. (2, 3)). Other than limited evidence that blood melatonin levels are reduced in human volunteers exposed to magnetic fields (4), there have been few studies of the effect of magnetic field exposure on pineal function in humans. Although some results from experimental and occupational studies suggest that nocturnal melatonin levels can be reduced by exposure to magnetic fields, the evidence thus far is inconsistent and incomplete (5-10). More importantly, it remains unknown whether such exposures can alter the endogenous hormonal environment in women in a manner that might be important in the etiology of breast cancer. Therefore, the present study was undertaken in 1994-1996 to investigate, for the first known time in women, whether exposure to magnetic fields and/or light-at-night is associated with lower nocturnal concentration of the primary metabolite of melatonin found in the urine (6-sulfatoxymelatonin).

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Residential Magnetic Fields, Light-at-Night, and Nocturnal Urinary 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin Concentration in Women

Davis

Kaune

Mirick

et al. 2001

American Journal of Epidemiology

108

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“…It has previously been demonstrated that the secretion of melatonin correlates to latitude. 7 To our knowledge, the effect of melatonin on SLE has not previously been studied. Data from animal studies have showed in¯uences of MLT on several immune functions, however.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Seasonal variations in activity of systemic lupus erythematosus in a subarctic region

Haga

Brun

Rekvig

et al. 1999

Lupus

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Photosensitivity is one of the major clinical features of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and is considered to be implicated in the disease pathogenesis. We studied seasonal variations of SLE disease activity at latitude 70 degrees North where there is no sunlight in the winter time, in contrast to 24 h daily sunlight in the summer (midnight sun). The associations between the level of plasma melatonin in June and December with disease manifestations were also studied. Twenty-one SLE patients were examined each month for 1 y, and disease activity was assessed by laboratory parameters as well as clinical disease activity parameters SLEDAI and doctor's global assessment. Melatonin levels were quantified by a RIA-assay. There was no significant change of clinical measures or laboratory parameters of disease activity from one month to the next during the one year, except photosensitive rashes. January was the only month without SLE-flares or arthritis, in contrast to rest of the year. The levels of plasma melatonin were highest in December for seven patients and highest in June for one patient (P < 0.005). Plasma melatonin levels did not correlate with measures of clinical disease activity. At a latitude of 70 degrees North there were no major seasonal variations in SLE disease activity during the one year. There was an accumulation of photosensitivity in the summer months, but no indications of worsening of the disease in the winter months. In contrast to the rest of the year, there was no flare in January which had only 5.6 h of sunshine. The level of p-melatonin did not correlate with measures of disease activity.

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“…Regarding seasonal breeding, a trait known to be under melatonin control, in a limited number of ewes it was suggested that the relative day/night melatonin ratio could be related to the date of onset of the ovulatory activity (Chemineau et al 1993, Zarazaga et al 1996, but this relationship needs to be confirmed on a larger set of ewes. In other species, studies were more focused on duration of melatonin secretion than on amplitude, with the exception of the relationship between melatonin amplitude and ageing in humans (Touitou et al 1981, Sack et al 1986, Wetterberg et al 1993, Kripke et al 1998, Touitou 2001) and primates (Aujard et al 1998, Roth et al 2001. In this latter case, melatonin amplitude was considered as a good marker of ageing processes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic variability in melatonin secretion originates in the number of pinealocytes in sheep

Brunet

Malpaux²,

Daveau³

et al. 2002

Journal of Endocrinology

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Genetic variability in plasma melatonin concentrations in ewes results from variations in pineal weight. This study investigated whether it is due to a difference in the number of pinealocytes, or in their size. Two groups of lambs were assigned before birth to being extremes (18 High and 21 Low) by calculating their genetic value on the basis of the melatonin concentrations of their parents. Lambs were bled from 1 week of age until 14 weeks of age. Pineal gland, brain and pituitary weights, length and width of the brain, and length of the hypothalamus were recorded. A significant effect (ANOVA) of genetic group (P<0·05) and age (P<0·05) was detected on mean nocturnal plasma melatonin concentrations, as soon as the first week after birth (mean ...; High: 51·7 10·7 vs Low: 31·9 3·2 pg/ml). There was no difference between the two genetic groups in any of the brain parameters measured, but the pineal glands of the High group were heavier and contained significantly more pinealocytes (High: 27·8 2·4 vs Low: 21·0 2·4 10 6 ; P<0·05) than those in the Low group. The mean size of pinealocytes did not differ between the two genetic groups. Thus, the genetic variability in nocturnal plasma melatonin concentrations in sheep is expressed by 1 week of age and higher levels of secretion are the consequence of larger pineal glands containing a greater number of pinealocytes.

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The Influence of Age, Sex, Height, Weight, Urine Volume and Latitude on Melatonin Concentrations in Urine from Normal Subjects: A Multinational Study

Cited by 14 publications

References 39 publications

Residential Magnetic Fields, Light-at-Night, and Nocturnal Urinary 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin Concentration in Women

Residential Magnetic Fields, Light-at-Night, and Nocturnal Urinary 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin Concentration in Women

Seasonal variations in activity of systemic lupus erythematosus in a subarctic region

Genetic variability in melatonin secretion originates in the number of pinealocytes in sheep

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