Physiological melatonin levels in healthy older people: A systematic review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine physiological levels and secretion patterns of melatonin in healthy older people to assess if melatonin levels decline with healthy aging.
Results Summary
The study found that total melatonin production over 24 hours does not change with healthy aging, but the maximal nocturnal peak concentration might decline, particularly in individuals aged ≥75 years. Maximum concentrations varied significantly, with lower peaks observed in older age groups.
Population
Healthy individuals aged ≥65 years.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin supplementation | neutral | sleep | older persons | - | increasingly applied | #1 |
melatonin | neutral | circadian rhythm | - | - | plays a major role in maintaining | #2 |
melatonin | neutral | melatonin secretion pattern and levels | persons with dementia, psychiatric disorders, sleep disorders or with cancer | - | secretion pattern and levels could be disturbed | #3 |
ageing | neutral | melatonin levels | - | - | could alter | #4 |
melatonin | neutral | melatonin secretion pattern | healthy persons aged ≥65years | - | secretion pattern with a clear peak concentration | #5 |
melatonin | neutral | maximum melatonin concentration | healthy persons aged ≥65years | 11.2 to 91.3pgml(-1) | maximum concentrations varied greatly | #6 |
melatonin | decrease | maximum melatonin level | participants mean aged ≥75years | 27.8pgml(-1) | maximum melatonin level | #7 |
melatonin | neutral | maximum melatonin level | participants mean aged 65-70years | 49.3pgml(-1) | maximum melatonin level | #8 |
melatonin | no change | Total melatonin production in 24hours | healthy ageing | - | Total melatonin production in 24hours seems not to change | #9 |
melatonin | decrease | maximal nocturnal peak concentration of melatonin | healthy ageing | - | maximal nocturnal peak concentration of melatonin might decline | #10 |
OBJECTIVE: Melatonin plays a major role in maintaining circadian rhythm. Previous studies showed that its secretion pattern and levels could be disturbed in persons with dementia, psychiatric disorders, sleep disorders or with cancer. Also ageing is a factor that could alter melatonin levels, although previous research provides contradicting results. As melatonin supplementation is increasingly applied in older persons as sleep medication, it is important to know if melatonin levels decrease in healthy ageing and/or secretion patterns change. The objective of this study is to determine physiological levels and secretion patterns of melatonin in healthy older people. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and searched PubMed and Embase for studies published between January 1st 1980 and October 5th 2015 that measured melatonin in healthy persons aged ≥65years. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were retrieved. The number of participants ranged from 5 to 60 per study. Melatonin was mostly measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the number of measurements per 24hours varied from 1 to 96. Sixteen studies showed a secretion pattern with a clear peak concentration, mostly at 0200h or 0300h. Maximum concentrations varied greatly from 11.2 to 91.3pgml(-1). Maximum melatonin level in studies with participants mean aged 65-70years was 49.3pgml(-1) and in studies with participants mean aged ≥75years 27.8pgml(-1), p-value <0.001. CONCLUSION: Total melatonin production in 24hours seems not to change in healthy ageing, but the maximal nocturnal peak concentration of melatonin might decline. It is important to take this into account when prescribing melatonin supplementation to older people.