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Updated: Jul 30, 2026

Cell-based Assay Protocol for the Prognostic Prediction of Idiopathic Scoliosis Using Cellular Dielectric Spectroscopy
Published on: October 16, 2013
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Is low melatonin a cause?
M Sadat-Ali1, I al-Habdan, A al-Othman
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, King Fadh University Hospital, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
Background:
Although the cause of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis remains unclear, pinealectomy is followed by the development of scoliosis in chickens. Melatonin is the only hormone secreted by pineal gland.
Objective:
To assess serum melatonin levels in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.
Methods:
Serum melatonin was assayed once, at 12:00 hours, in each of 20 adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis and 10 age-matched siblings. In the patient group, mean age was 14.3 years and the mean Cobb angle was 54.5 degrees (range, 20 degrees-110 degrees). Mean age in the control group was 14 years.
Results:
Serum melatonin was significantly lower in the patients (mean, 7.7 pg/mL; range, 4 to 13 pg/mL) than in the controls (mean, 29.9 pg/mL; range, 19.3 to 46 pg/mL) (P < 0.00001). The 12 surgically treated patients had a mean melatonin level of 8.1 pg/mL, versus 7.2 pg/mL in the eight other patients (nonsignificant P and regression coefficient values). Serum melatonin was not significantly correlated with the Cobb's angle (regression coefficient, 0.18; P < 0.44).
Conclusion:
Our data suggest that serum melatonin levels may contribute to the pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis.
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