title: [Melatonin in the human--an overview].
abstract: Over the past two decades, the pineal gland with its major hormone, melatonin, has been shown to control the seasonal changes in a wide variety of species. Nevertheless, its place in human physiology is unclear at present. Melatonin is a hormone secreted during the dark period of the day. On comparing different age groups, serum melatonin concentrations are at a peak during early childhood, decline steadily until puberty, remain stable and, finally, decrease in elderly people. Melatonin appears to have a physiologic role as a nocturnal sleep inducer in man, but it might also have a certain effect on the human circadian rhythms, the reproductive and the immune system. Patients suffering from pineal tumors, disturbed sexual maturation or a phase shift in their circadian rhythms may also show altered serum melatonin levels. Exogenous melatonin shows a direct sedative-hypnotic action, with no serious toxic or side effects even after ingestion of large doses. Melatonin may gain importance as a natural hypnotic substance in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, AKH, Wien, Osterreich.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Turkof
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Waldhauser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin