Melatonin and climactery.
Study Design
- Study Type
- review
- Population
- Postmenopausal/climacteric women; general population (narrative review)
- Intervention
- Melatonin and climactery. various (short-term administration)
- Comparator
- no treatment / placebo (narrative review)
- Primary Outcome
- melatonin levels in climacteric women and effects on sleep, mood, cancer risk, and reproductive processes
- Effect Direction
- Neutral
- Risk of Bias
- Moderate
Abstract
Melatonin is a hormone synthesized in the pineal gland from tryptophan. It participates in several biological processes in the human being, such as circadian sleep rhythm, mood, reproductive processes and aging. Melatonin serum levels are increased in childhood and diminish importantly in older people. Serum levels are diminished in patients with insomnia and depressive mood. Experimentally, the melatonin inhibits the growth of mammary tumors in animals. With respect to endometrial cancer and Alzheimer's disease, the information is not conclusive. No changes have been found in melatonin levels in climacterical women. So its use has not fundament in postmenopausal women, however it can only be administered for short periods of time for the treatment of some sleep disturbances.
TL;DR
Melatonin is a hormone synthesized in the pineal gland from tryptophan that participates in several biological processes in the human being, such as circadian sleep rhythm, mood, reproductive processes and aging.