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Infant colic: the effect of serotonin and melatonin circadian rhythms on the intestinal smooth muscle
Insights
Infant colic may be caused by high evening serotonin levels leading to gut cramps, as melatonin, which relaxes muscles, is not yet present. These colic symptoms typically resolve around 3 months when melatonin rhythms develop.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Neurogastroenterology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Infant colic is a common condition characterized by unexplained crying and fussiness.
- Serotonin is known to increase intestinal smooth muscle contractions.
- Melatonin is known to relax intestinal smooth muscles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of serotonin and melatonin circadian rhythms in the development and resolution of infant colic.
- To hypothesize the mechanism by which serotonin and melatonin influence intestinal motility in newborns.
Main Methods:
- This study is based on a hypothesis and observational data regarding the development of circadian rhythms.
- Analysis of the known physiological effects of serotonin and melatonin on intestinal smooth muscle.
- Correlation of the onset and disappearance of colic symptoms with the emergence of specific circadian rhythms.
Main Results:
- Both serotonin and melatonin exhibit circadian rhythms with peak concentrations in the evening.
- Serotonin's pro-motility effect is unopposed in the first three months of life.
- Melatonin's anti-motility effect emerges around three months of age, coinciding with colic resolution.
Conclusions:
- Peak evening serotonin concentrations may cause intestinal cramps leading to colic in early infancy.
- The absence of melatonin's opposing effect in the first three months allows serotonin-induced contractions to dominate.
- The development of melatonin circadian rhythms at three months likely resolves colic symptoms by counteracting serotonin's effects.
Abstract:
It is hypothesized that in the evening, peak serotonin concentration causes intestinal cramps associated with colic because serotonin increases intestinal smooth muscle contractions. Melatonin has the opposite effect of relaxing intestinal smooth muscles. Both serotonin and melatonin exhibit a circadian rhythm with peak concentrations in the evening. However, serotonin intestinal contractions are unopposed by melatonin during the first 3 months because only serotonin circadian rhythms are present at birth. Melatonin circadian rhythms appear at 3 months of age. The cramps of colic disappear at 3 months of age.