Melatonin in sleep disorders
Abstract
Melatonin is the main hormone involved in the control of the sleep-wake cycle. It is easily synthesisable and can be administered orally, which has led to interest in its use as a treatment for insomnia. Moreover, as production of the hormone decreases with age, in inverse correlation with the frequency of poor sleep quality, it has been suggested that melatonin deficit is at least partly responsible for sleep disorders. Treating this age-related deficit would therefore appear to be a natural way of restoring sleep quality, which is lost as patients age. However, despite the undeniable theoretical appeal of this approach to insomnia, little scientific evidence is available that supports any benefit of this substitutive therapy. Furthermore, the most suitable dose ranges and pharmaceutical preparations for melatonin administration are yet to be clearly defined. This review addresses the physiology of melatonin, the different pharmaceutical preparations, and data on its clinical usefulness. La melatonina es la principal hormona implicada en la regulación de la oscilación entre sueño y vigilia. Es fácilmente sintetizable y administrable por vía oral, lo que ha propiciado el interés para usarla en el tratamiento de una de las patologías humanas más prevalentes, el insomnio. Además, el hecho de que su producción se reduzca con la edad, en una relación inversamente proporcional a la frecuencia de mala calidad de sueño, ha reforzado la idea de que su déficit es, al menos en parte,…
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