The Circadian Pattern of Melatonin and Its Positive Relationship with Progesterone in Women
Abstract
To investigate the possible role of melatonin in the regulation of the human menstrual cycle, the circadian pattern of melatonin was determined in the follicular and luteal phases of 10 normal women. Four-hourly sampling was used to derive a melatonin index which described the total exposure to melatonin for 24 h. This sampling procedure adequately represented the circadian melatonin output and demonstrated that pulses of melatonin secretion, inconsistent with a measured half-life of 47 min, did not exist. A significant increase (P less than 0.001) in the melatonin index was found in the luteal phase compared to that in the follicular phase. To investigate the influence of exogenous progestins on the melatonin pattern, repeated 24-h profiles were measured in 8 women taking the 3-phase contraceptive pill. There was a significant increase (P less than 0.01) in the melatonin index associated with an increase in the dose of progestin. These results are consistent with a positive relationship between melatonin and progesterone and suggest that changes in the circadian pattern of melatonin secretion, rising during the luteal phase with a fall before ovulation, may act as a modulator of cyclicity.
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An early study reported a significant increase in total 24-hour plasma melatonin secretion during the luteal phase compared with the follicular phase.
“An early study sampling plasma melatonin every four hours during the FP and LP reported a significant increase in the total amount of secretion in 24 hours during the LP compared to the FP [58].”
From Sleep, hormones, and circadian rhythms throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy women and women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (2010) · cites this paper as [58]
Exogenous synthetic progestins in the form of oral contraceptives tend to increase melatonin secretion.
“Exogenous synthetic progestins (in the form of oral contraceptives) have a tendency to increase melatonin secretion [58, 59, 67]”
From Sleep, hormones, and circadian rhythms throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy women and women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (2010) · cites this paper as [58]
Variable results including both increases and decreases in melatonin and changes in the timing of hormones have been described.
“Generally, circadian hormone rhythms are not significantly altered across the menstrual cycle (see Table 2), though variable results including both increases [58, 59] and decreases [37] in melatonin as well as changes in the timing of hormones [35] have been described.”
From Sleep, hormones, and circadian rhythms throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy women and women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (2010) · cites this paper as [58]
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- Authors
- WEBLEY, G. E., & LEIDENBERGER, F.
- Affiliations
- Universität Hamburg (DE)
- Venue
- The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
- Publisher
- The Endocrine Society
- Published
- 1986-08
- Volume
- 63
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 323-328
- ISSN
- 0021-972X (ISSN-L)
- 1945-7197
- OpenAlex
- W2114238535
- Cited by
- 138
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 5.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian function and disorders
- Keywords
- melatonin, circadian rhythm, progesterone, menstrual cycle, luteal phase, follicular phase, oral contraceptives, ovulation, melatonin secretion
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Intranasal, Administration, Oral, Adult, Circadian Rhythm, Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal, Female, Follicular Phase, Humans, Luteal Phase, Male, Melatonin, Progestins
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