[Secretion of serotonin and melatonin in patients with functional dyspepsia]

It was confirmed that enterochromaffin cells (EC) in the digestive system are a source of serotonin and melatonin. Both hormones possess an important, but opposed, influence on secretory and motoric function of gut. The aim of our study was to evaluate fasting secretion of serotonin and melatonin in patients with functional dyspepsia. Material and methods. 25 healthy subjects (K, group I), 25 patients with epigastric pain syndrome (EPS, group II) and 25 patients with postprandial distress syndrome (PDS, group III), aged 18-50 years, were included in this study. Diagnosis of functional dyspepsia was established according to the Rome Criteria III. Organic diseases of gut, H. pylori infection and another disorders were excluded. Seven days before the examinations the patients were told to abstain from drugs intake and equal diet was applied. On the day of investigation the subjects remained in a red-light room at night and received standard liquid diet (Nutridrink, 4 x 200 ml, 1800 kcal). Blood samples were taken for examination at 8 am on the subsequent day and serum was frozen in -80 degrees C. The concentration of serotonin and melatonin was measured by ELSA, using antibodies from IBL (catalogue no. RE 59121, RE 54021).

The mean concentration of serotonin in group I (K) was 162.9 +/- 49.1 ng/ml, in group II (EPS)--225.8 +/- 111.3 ng/ml (p < 0.05) and in group III (PDS)--152.7 +/- 83.2 ng/ml (p > 0.05). The concentration of melatonin was in group I--7.3 +/- 4.0 pg/ml, in group II 8.7 +/- 8.0 (p > 0.05) and in group III 14.3 +/- 10.1 (p < 0.01).

During fasting time secretion of serotonin is higher in patients with EPS, and similarly higher secretion of melatonin in patients with PDS, compared to healthy subjects.