Griefahn Barbara, Bröde Peter, Remer Thomas, Blaszkewicz Meinolf
Institute for Occupational Physiology at the University of Dortmund, Germany.
Neuroendocrinology. 2003 Nov;78(5):241-3. doi: 10.1159/000074444.
The analysis was performed to support the assumption that in inter-individual variations melatonin production is determined genetically. Sixty-six siblings from 31 families (27 girls, 39 boys, 3-18 years) contributed to this study with 3 to 15 urine samples collected once a year over 24 h. The samples were stored at -20 degrees C and analyzed for the daily output of the melatonin metabolite 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate (6-OHMS) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results indicate that 6-OHMS excretion was significantly correlated in siblings (r = 0.37, p = 0.01), suggesting a possible genetic background of melatonin production. However, prospective studies controlling also lifestyle factors such as diet are required to further confirm the hypothesis.
个体间褪黑素分泌的差异是由基因决定的。来自31个家庭的66名兄弟姐妹（27名女孩，39名男孩，3至18岁）参与了本研究，每年采集一次24小时尿液样本，每人采集3至15份。样本保存在-20摄氏度，通过酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）分析褪黑素代谢物硫酸6-羟基褪黑素（6-OHMS）的日产量。结果表明，兄弟姐妹间6-OHMS排泄量显著相关（r = 0.37，p = 0.01），提示褪黑素分泌可能存在遗传背景。然而，还需要控制饮食等生活方式因素的前瞻性研究来进一步证实这一假设。
