title: Saliva as a valid alternative in monitoring melatonin concentrations in newborn infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pineal physiology is not completely elucidated in newborn infants. As melatonin in pharmacological doses has been reported to reduce oxidative stress in neonates with asphyxia, respiratory distress syndrome, or sepsis, there is the need to better understand the physiological role of melatonin in the neonatal period. The aim of this study was to evaluate a new saliva sampling method suitable for newborn infants and to assess whether salivary melatonin could be used as a reliable, non-invasive, pain-free alternative to serum melatonin to study the pineal physiology in newborn infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 86 healthy term newborn infants, a serum sample was collected by venipuncture after 36h of life during blood sampling for newborn screening, immediately after a saliva sample had been collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 86 saliva samples, 62 were 'ideal' samples for the analysis. The median serum and salivary melatonin levels of the 62 newborns were 14.4pg/mL (11.5-20.5pg/mL) and 10.8pg/mL (7.5-16.1pg/mL), respectively. There was no significant difference between serum and salivary melatonin levels. The results revealed a highly significant correlation between the serum and salivary melatonin levels (Pearson's correlation coefficient, r=0.793; p<0.001). Linear regression analysis showed that the equation for the relationship between serum (x) and saliva (y) was y=1.12x-5.58pg/mL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To study pineal function in newborn infants, saliva collection using cotton buds and measurement of melatonin in saliva offers a valid, non-invasive, pain-free and practical alternative to blood sampling and determination of serum melatonin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. soyhan.bagci@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: Soyhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bagci
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reinsberg
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heep
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bartmann
authors.forename: Axel R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Franz
mesh_terms: D032561:Cotton Fiber; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin