Source
Departamento de Biologia Funcional, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain. beatrizd@uniovi.es
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
The pineal gland, through its hormone melatonin, is involved in the mechanisms that regulate the aging process involved in the onset of menopause. Considering the melatonin changes reported during pre-, peri-, and postmenopause, an influence of melatonin on the hormonal changes associated with menopause transition could be expected.
DESIGN:
We report the first longitudinal case study, covering a 7.5-year period, on the effects of melatonin administration on the reproductive hormones luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and 17[beta]-estradiol during that period of the reproductive life.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:
The data obtained in this case report show that melatonin administration was able to delay the characteristic endocrine changes that occur during the course of menopause.