Study Design: The serum melatonin levels during 24-hour periods were compared between patients with idiopathic and age-matched normal control subjects.
Objective: To find if the melatonin deficiency may have some role for progression or etiology of idiopathic scoliosis in humans.
Summary of Background Data: Experimentally induced scoliosis in chicken by pinealectomy can be attributed to the defect in melatonin metabolism.
Method: Blood samples were correlated every 3 hours during 24-hour periods, and serum melatonin levels were measured and statistically analyzed.
Results: The level of melatonin, integrated concentration through 24 hours and night time (0:00 AM-6:00 AM), in the patients who had progressive curve (more than 10° of progression in the previous 12 months) was significantly lower than the level in the patients who had a stable curve (less than 10° of progression in the previous 12 months) or in the control subjects (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The study suggests that normal melatonin synthesis or metabolism may have crucial role in regulating normal spine growth. The level of melatonin appears to be a useful predictor for progression of spine curvature in idiopathic scoliosis.