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Human Melatonin Production Decreases With Age
Author(s) -
Sack Robert L.,
Lewy Alfred J.,
Erb Danielle L.,
Vollmer William M.,
Singer Clifford M.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-079x.1986.tb00760.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , excretion , urine , metabolite , urinary system , age groups , physiology , biology , medicine , endocrinology , zoology , demography , sociology
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of time of year and demographic variables on the amplitude of melatonin production in normal human subjects. Melatonin production was estimated by measuring the overnight excretion of its major urinary metabolite, 6‐hydroxymelatonin. Urine was collected on three consecutive nights in the summer from a sample of 60 normal subjects balanced for sex and age. The collections were repeated in a subgroup during the winter. Melatonin production clearly declined with age but was not influenced by other demographic variables or by season of the year.