Melatonin is
a hormone secreted by the pineal
gland (an
endocrine gland in the human body). |
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The hormone melatonin is important
for setting and maintaining the body's biological clock - that is,
regulating the day/night rhythm based on periods
of light/darkness.
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It is produced by the pineal gland in darkness but
not in bright light.
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Melatonin
receptors in the brain react to this hormone and synchronize
the body to the 24 hour day/night rhythm, thus informing the
brain when it is day and when it is night.
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Melatonin
is derived from seratonin - with which it works to regulate the
sleep cycle.
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Melatonin levels are higher in children than in adults, and decline
with age into adulthood.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression that affects some
people during the winter months when the length of days is short, it thought
to be partly due to overproduction of melatonin.
For further general/summary information
including the locations of the endocrine glands in the body, visit
the page about Endocrine
Glands of the Human Body. |
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