Melatonin reference limits at 3:00 AM and 8:00 AM in healthy adults

Clin Lab. 2009;55(9-10):359-61.

Abstract

We determined melatonin reference limits in blood serum of 129 healthy volunteers, aged 21 to 70 years, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IBL ELISA kit, Hamburg, Germany). At 3:00 AM, in almost full dark, the reference limits were found to be 18.3-134 pg/ml in males, 19.0-197 pg/ml in females and 18.5-180 pg/ml in the whole group. At 8:00 AM, they were statistically lower (5.63-61.8, 3.30-93.2 and 3.83-80.4 pg/ml respectively) possibly due to the light.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Melatonin / blood*
  • Middle Aged
  • Reference Values
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Melatonin