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Melatonin secretion across puberty: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Christian C Andersen1, Eva K R Kjær2, Christian B Vase2
1Danish Center for Sleep Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
Psychoneuroendocrinology
|January 17, 2025
Summary
Melatonin levels decrease during puberty, with Tanner stages significantly linked to lower average and peak concentrations. Further research is needed to understand the hormonal and physical factors influencing this change.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pediatrics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Melatonin levels naturally decline with aging and significantly during puberty.
- Observed differences in melatonin levels between individuals with pubertal development disorders and healthy controls suggest a link to pubertal changes.
- Adolescent melatonin decrease may be associated with physical, hormonal, and neuronal alterations during puberty.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing literature on melatonin levels in healthy children and adolescents during puberty.
- To investigate the relationship between melatonin concentrations and pubertal development.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of Medline and Embase databases (1974-2024).
- Backward referencing (snowball search) of eligible studies to identify additional relevant articles.
- Meta-analysis of serum melatonin concentrations in relation to age and Tanner pubertal stages.
Main Results:
- 21 studies were included in the review.
- A meta-analysis revealed a significant association between Tanner stages and decreasing average and peak melatonin concentrations.
- While some studies reported decreases, others found no difference or increases in melatonin levels during pubertal advancement.
Conclusions:
- The concurrent progression of puberty and aging complicates the interpretation of melatonin level decreases.
- Potential contributing factors include sex hormones, physical changes of puberty, and light exposure.
- Controlled studies with biochemical and clinical assessment of pubertal status are recommended to elucidate these factors.
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