Objective: Melatonin production is known to be delayed in preterm-born infants up to 6 months of age. This might be related to exposure of preterm infants to continuous lighting in the NICU during a critical period of pineal gland development. The investigators aimed to test the profile of melatonin production in these infants at 9-12 months of age. Methods: Twenty three term-born and 23 preterm-born infants (gestational age: 29-34 weeks) were studied. The investigators tested nocturnal urinary melatonin excretion, within a repeated measures design, both at 9 and 12 months of age. Nocturnal urine was extracted from diapers and urinary melatonin derivate (6-sulphatoxymelatonin) excretion was analyzed by ELISA assay.
Unlike other organs which show catch up in preterm infants after one year of life, the pineal gland shows persistent delay in melatonin production. This field of research has been neglected lately although there are published recommendations for decrease of bright light in NICUs which prevents melatonin development and production, and also recommendations for melatonin treatment in cases respiration recovery in hospitalized preterm infants.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
46
Rambam Medical Center
Haifa, Israel
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