Abstract
The fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic, widespread pain disorder of unknown etiology. It has been suggest that familial component, environmental factors, endocrine and neurotransmitter alterations, and psychological factors may contribute to the development of FMS. The role of melatonin in FMS is unclear. Some studies describe a lower nocturnal peak and a decreased secretion of melatonin in women with FMS when compared with healthy matched controls. The aim of the present study was to determine the possible role of melatonin in FMS patients. We examined the characteristics and levels of melatonin in 25 consecutive premenopausal women with FMS. Serum blood samples were collected from 25 patients and 20 the age and gender matched healthy controls. Melatonin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Then, the results were compared with those from healthy subjects. Serum melatonin levels of FMS patients were not statistically different from those of controls (P > 0.05). No association was observed between melatonin levels of patients with FMS and disease duration, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and pain scores. Our results demonstrate that melatonin levels were similar in patients with FMS and healthy controls. Further studies are needed to determine the possible role of melatonin.
References
Acuna-Castroviejo D, Escames G, Reiter RJ (2006) Melatonin therapy in fibromyalgia. J Pineal Res 40(1):98–99
Senel K, Baykal T, Melikoglu MA, Erdal A, Karatay S, Karakoc A, Ugur M (2011) Serum melatonin levels in ankylosing spondylitis: correlation with disease activity. Rheumatol Int 31(1):61–63
Press J, Phillip M, Neumann L, Barak R, Segev Y, Abu-Shakra M, Buskila D (1998) Normal melatonin levels in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. J Rheumatol 25(3):551–555
Wikner J, Hirsch U, Wetterberg L, Röjdmark S (1998) Fibromyalgia—a syndrome associated with decreased nocturnal melatonin secretion. Clin Endocrinol 49(2):179–183
Webb SM (1998) Fibromyalgia and melatonin: are they related? Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 49(2):161–62
Khaldy H, León J, Escames G, Bikjdaouene L, García JJ, Acuña-Castroviejo D (2002) Circadian rhythms of dopamine and dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid in the mouse striatum: effects of pinealectomy and of melatonin treatment. Neuroendocrinology 75(3):201–208
Altun A, Ugur-Altun B (2007) Melatonin: therapeutic and clinical utilization. Int J Clin Pract 61(5):835–845
Staud R (2004) Fibromyalgia pain: do we know the source? Curr Opin Rheumatol 16(2):157–163
Mayo JC, Sainz RM, Tan DX, Hardeland R, Leon J, Rodriguez C, Reiter RJ (2005) Anti-inflammatory actions of melatonin and its metabolites, N1-acetyl-N2-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK) and N1-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AMK), in macrophages. J Neuroimmunol 165(1–2):139–149
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Senel, K., Baygutalp, F., Baykal, T. et al. Melatonin levels in premenopausal women with fibromyalgia syndrome. Rheumatol Int 33, 1609–1610 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-011-2315-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-011-2315-y