Melatonin
- 18 May 1996
- Vol. 312 (7041) , 1242-1243
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.312.7041.1242
Abstract
What is known can be summarised briefly. Melatonin is normally made at night and may be considered to act as a signal of darkness to the body. In all life forms so far studied it seems to act as a time signal for the organisation of daily (circadian; sleep-wake) or seasonal rhythms, or both.3 Melatonin seems to play an important part in setting the correct timing of sleep-wake cycles in mammals in the perinatal period and of subsequent pubertal development. When given to humans it has rapid, transient, mild, sleep inducing effects,4 and it lowers alertness, body temperature and performance during the three or four hours after low doses have been given.5 6 Correctly timed, it is …Keywords
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