Do birth variable data predict melatonin production in 8- to 9-year-old children? Analysis of excreted 6-sulfatoxymelatonin.
OBJECTIVE
A cross-sectional study on urinary excretion of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT.6S) in young adults suggests a relation between melatonin production and body size at birth. As individual melatonin production remains stable during childhood and adolescence, this melatonin-birth size relation should also exist in children.


METHODS
Daily urinary output of aMT.6S of 147 healthy white children (78 boys, 69 girls), 8 or 9 years of age, was quantified by ELISA and related to birth variable data.


RESULTS
Contrary to expectation, aMT.6S output was not related to the ponderal index at birth but a moderate positive association with body mass index at the age of 8-9 years was seen.


CONCLUSIONS
This study in children contradicts previous findings in adults. As no obvious reason can be identified for this discrepancy, further research (particularly a longitudinal study) is recommended to clarify whether birth variable data may predict melatonin production in certain circumstances during or after puberty.
Griefahn
Barbara
B
Institute for Occupational Physiology at Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany. griefahn@ifado.de
Blaszkewicz
Meinolf
M
Bröde
Peter
P
Remer
Thomas
T
D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
C054513:6-sulfatoxymelatonin; D008550:Melatonin