Melatonin treatment in peri- and postmenopausal women elevates serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels without influencing total cholesterol levels

  1. Hiroshi Tamura1,2,
  2. Yasuhiko Nakamura3,
  3. Akio Narimatsu4,
  4. Yoshiaki Yamagata1,
  5. Akihisa Takasaki5,
  6. Russel J. Reiter2,
  7. Norihiro Sugino1

Article first published online: 19 FEB 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.2008.00561.x

Issue

Journal of Pineal Research

Journal of Pineal Research

Volume 45, Issue 1, pages 101–105, August 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Tamura, H., Nakamura, Y., Narimatsu, A., Yamagata, Y., Takasaki, A., Reiter, R. J. and Sugino, N. (2008), Melatonin treatment in peri- and postmenopausal women elevates serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels without influencing total cholesterol levels. Journal of Pineal Research, 45: 101–105. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.2008.00561.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan

  2. 2

    Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA

  3. 3

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yamaguchi Grand Medical Center, Hofu, Japan

  4. 4

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ogori-Daiichi General Hospital, Yamaguchi, Japan

  5. 5

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saiseikai Shimonoseki General Hospital, Yasuoka Shimonoseki, Japan

*Address reprint requests to Hiroshi Tamura, MD, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minamikogushi, Ube, Japan. E-mail: hitamura@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 14 JUL 2008
  2. Article first published online: 19 FEB 2008
  3. Received November 13, 2007; accepted December 17, 2007.

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Keywords:

  • cardiovascular disease;
  • high-density lipoprotein cholesterol;
  • lipid metabolism;
  • melatonin;
  • menopause

Abstract:  The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of melatonin on lipid metabolism in peri- and postmenopausal women. Forty-six women were enrolled in these studies. The relationship between night-time serum melatonin levels and serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was investigated in 36 women. Night-time serum melatonin levels had a negative correlation with serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, and a loose positive correlation with HDL-cholesterol. To examine the effects of exogenous melatonin on lipid metabolism, serum levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were determined in 10 women before the onset of therapy and after 1 month of oral melatonin administration (1 mg melatonin daily). Melatonin administration significantly increased the serum levels of HDL-cholesterol. These results show that melatonin may influence cholesterol metabolism and suggest that the melatonin administration may become a new medical application for improvement of lipid metabolism and prevention of cardiovascular disease in peri- and postmenopausal women.

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