Case study: melatonin in severe obesity.
Nocturnal serum melatonin was measured at half-hour intervals from 6:30 P.M. to 7 A.M. in two sisters, one severely obese 15-year-old and one somewhat overweight 12-year-old. Both, otherwise, were physically and psychiatrically healthy. In the severely obese sister, there was a significant increase in the serum melatonin mean level, a delayed phase-shift, and a delayed peak. Also, her overnight urine melatonin and its metabolite, 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate, were significantly higher. Could there be a relationship between dysregulation of the pineal gland and severe obesity?
Shafii
M
M
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY, USA.
MacMillan
D R
DR
Key
M P
MP
Kaufman
N
N
Nahinsky
I D
ID
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine
D008550:Melatonin