[Melatonin status in obese patients with ovarian dysfunction at reproductive age]

Melatonin is the main hormone of the pineal gland. By regulating circadian rhythms and being an immune regulator and antioxidant, this hormone takes part in the work of the ovaries: its high concentrations block apoptosis and neutralize reactive oxygen species involved in folliculogenesis, ovulation, egg maturation and corpus luteum formation.

To study melatonin status and its relationship with menstrual dysfunction and sleep disorders in obese women of reproductive age.

In a one-stage comparative study, women 18-35 years old took part: 30 patients with obesity and menstrual disorders of an inorganic nature and 30 healthy women in the comparison group with normal weight and regular menstrual cycle. All participants underwent a questionnaire to identify somnological disorders, and the level of melatonin in saliva and 6-sulfatoxymelatonin in urine was also investigated.

In the group of patients with obesity (n=30), various sleep disorders were encountered in 47% of cases (p=0.003), including more often obstructive sleep apnea syndrome was recorded (30% of cases), and a correlation was found between the indicators of the questionnaire survey of subjective sleep characteristics and body mass index of patients (r=0.450, p=0.030) compared with a group of healthy women with normal weight (n=30). In the main group, the level of melatonin in saliva was statistically significantly lower than in the control: median 12.6 pg / ml and 25.5 pg / ml, respectively (p=0.008), the same pattern was recorded for 6-sulfatoxymelatonin: 14, 72 pg / ml and 31.12 pg / ml, respectively.

Patients with obesity and menstrual dysfunction are more likely to suffer from various sleep disorders and have lower levels of melatonin in saliva and 6-sulfatoxymelatonin in urine.