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From: trigonometry1972 on 13 Dec 2009 00:59
Full article available without charge at link
on Pubmed.

J Physiol Pharmacol. 2006 Nov;57 Suppl 5:41-50.

Nocturnal secretion of melatonin in patients with upper digestive
tract
disorders.

Klupińska G, Wiśniewska-Jarosińska M, Harasiuk A,
Chojnacki C, Stec-Michalska K, Błasiak J, Reiter RJ, Chojnacki J.

Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Diseases,
Medical University of Lodz,
1 Haller's Square, 90-647 Lodz, Poland.
gastro(a)achilles.wam.lodz.pl

Recently, the results of many experimental investigations have shown
that
melatonin possesses gastroprotective properties. On the other hand its
role in
pathogenesis of upper digestive tract diseases in man still remains
unclear. The
aim of the study was to investigate nocturnal secretion of melatonin
in patients
with functional and organic diseases of the upper part of digestive
tract. The
investigations were carried out in 149 persons, aged 21-51 years,
including
healthy subjects (group I, n=30), and patients with non-erosive
gastroduodenal
reflux (NERD, group II, n=24), with gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD, group
III, n=25), with functional dyspepsia (FD, according to the Rome III
Criteria,
group IV, n=36) and with recurrent duodenal ulcer (DUD, group V,
n=34). Diagnoses
were established on the basis of endoscopic imaging and histological
examination,
24-hour pH-metry and laboratory tests. Melatonin serum concentration
was measured
with ELISA method. Blood samples were taken for examination in red-
lighted room
at 10 p.m. and on the following day at 2 and 6 a.m. The highest
concentration of
melatonin in all examined groups was determined at 2 a.m. The average
melatonin
concentration in healthy subjects was 34,7 +/- 4,8 pg/ml. In patients
with GERD
and DUD melatonin concentration was lower than in healthy subjects -
27,2 +/- 8,5
pg/ml and 25,5 +/- 6,2 pg/ml respectively (p < 0,05; p < 0,01). The
highest
concentration of melatonin was found in patients with NERD and FD -
43,2 +/- 10,8
pg/ml and 42,4 +/- 10,1 pg/ml (p < 0,01; p < 0,05). The findings of
this study
support the notion that melatonin exerts beneficial influences on the
upper
digestive tract. It is likely that high or relatively correct
secretion of
melatonin is sufficient to prevent peptic changes in esophageal and
duodenal
mucosa.

PMID: 17218759 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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