Advances in the Research of Melatonin in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Literature Review and New Perspectives
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Abnormalities in melatonin physiology may be involved or closely linked to the pathophysiology and behavioral expression of autistic disorder, given its role in neurodevelopment and reports of sleep-wake rhythm disturbances, decreased nocturnal melatonin production, and beneficial therapeutic effects of melatonin in individuals with autism. In addition, melatonin, as a pineal gland hormone produced from serotonin, is of special interest in autistic disorder given reported alterations in central and peripheral serotonin neurobiology. More specifically, the role of melatonin in the ontogenetic establishment of circadian rhythms and the synchronization of peripheral oscillators opens interesting perspectives to ascertain better the mechanisms underlying the significant relationship found between lower nocturnal melatonin excretion and increased severity of autistic social communication impairments, especially for verbal communication and social imitative play. In this article, first we review the studies on melatonin levels and the treatment studies of melatonin in autistic disorder. Then, we discuss the relationships between melatonin and autistic behavioral impairments with regard to social communication (verbal and non-verbal communication, social interaction), and repetitive behaviors or interests with difficulties adapting to change. In conclusion, we emphasize that randomized clinical trials in autism spectrum disorders are warranted to establish potential therapeutic efficacy of melatonin for social communication impairments and stereotyped behaviors or interests.
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The summer-birth association strengthens the hypothesis of a possible role of a deficit in melatonin in the development of ASD.
“It strengthens the hypothesis developed by several authors [for a review, see Ref. (83–85)] of a possible role of a deficit in melatonin in the development of ASD (the production of melatonin is powerfully suppressed by light acting through the retino-hypothalamic tract).”
From Gene × Environment Interactions in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Role of Epigenetic Mechanisms (2014) · cites this paper as [85]
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Flagged first, then by citations
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
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- Authors
- Tordjman, S., Najjar, I., Bellissant, E., Anderson, G., Barburoth, M., Cohen, D., Jaafari, N., Schischmanoff, O., Fagard, R., Lagdas, E., Kermarrec, S., Ribardiere, S., Botbol, M., Fougerou, C., Bronsard, G., & Vernay-Leconte, J.
- Affiliations
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Centre Hospitalier Guillaume Régnier (FR)
- Inserm CIC 0203 Clinical Investigation Centre, University Hospital, Rennes 1 University, Rennes 35033, France
- Yale University (US)
- Laboratory of Psychology of Perception, CNRS UMR 8158, Paris 75270, France
- Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (FR)
- CIC INSERM U 802, CHU de Poitiers, Unité de recherche clinique intersectorielle en psychiatrie du Centre Hospitalier Henri Laborit, Poitiers 86022, France
- INSERM UMR U978, University of Paris 13, Bobigny 93009, France
- Inserm (FR)
- Université de Bretagne Occidentale (FR)
- Maison Départementale de l’Adolescent et Centre Médico-Psycho-Pédagogique, Conseil Général des Bouches-du-Rhône, Laboratoire de Santé Publique EA3279, Faculté de Médecine de la Timone, Marseille 13256, France
- Corresponding author
- Tordjman, Sylvie
- Venue
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2013-10-14
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 20508-20542
- ISSN
- 1422-0067 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3821628
- OpenAlex
- W2105153310
- Cited by
- 132
- References
- 143
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 1.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Keywords
- melatonin, autism spectrum disorder, circadian rhythm, serotonin, pineal gland, melatonin therapy, social communication deficits, repetitive behavior, social interaction, melatonin supplementation
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Communication Disorders, Humans, Melatonin
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