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Lower melatonin secretion in older females: gender differences independent of light exposure profiles.


ABSTRACT:

Background

Melatonin is associated with a variety of diseases in advanced age, including insomnia, depression, and dementia, and its secretion is influenced by light exposure. Although studies in young and middle-aged subjects have shown that females tend to have higher melatonin levels than males, gender differences in melatonin levels among older people remain unclear.

Methods

To determine the gender differences in melatonin levels among older people in home settings, we conducted a cross-sectional study in 528 older people. We measured overnight urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion (UME; an index of melatonin secretion), and ambulatory light intensity.

Results

The mean age of females was 1.8 years younger, and average intensity of daytime light exposure was half that in males (P < 0.01). In a univariate comparison, UME was significantly lower in females than in males (P < 0.01). A multivariate model using analysis of covariance showed that log-transformed UME remained significantly lower in females after adjustment for potential confounding factors, including age and daytime and nighttime light exposure profiles (males vs. females: 1.90 vs. 1.73 log µg; adjusted mean difference 0.17 log µg [95% confidence interval [CI] 0.02-0.32]; P = 0.02). This result indicates that older females have 18.4% (95% CI, 2.2-37.4%) lower UME than older males.

Conclusions

Older females have significantly lower UME than older males, an association which is independent of light exposure profiles in home settings. Our findings may be useful as basic data for further research to investigate gender differences in several diseases associated with melatonin in the elderly.

SUBMITTER: Obayashi K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4275436 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Lower melatonin secretion in older females: gender differences independent of light exposure profiles.

Obayashi Kenji K   Saeki Keigo K   Tone Nobuhiro N   Iwamoto Junko J   Miyata Kimie K   Ikada Yoshito Y   Kurumatani Norio N  

Journal of epidemiology 20140913 1


<h4>Background</h4>Melatonin is associated with a variety of diseases in advanced age, including insomnia, depression, and dementia, and its secretion is influenced by light exposure. Although studies in young and middle-aged subjects have shown that females tend to have higher melatonin levels than males, gender differences in melatonin levels among older people remain unclear.<h4>Methods</h4>To determine the gender differences in melatonin levels among older people in home settings, we conduct  ...[more]

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