Melatonin Affects Sleep Patterns in Children with Autism
They say right off that they need to do more research before they can recommend that the children in the study who do not take medication begin to take over the counter melatonin supplements, even with the promising outcomes of the study.
Melatonin is known to affect the sleep patterns as well as the brain development. It is release while we sleep by a gland called the pineal gland, which is located in the brain. There have been reports of children with autism having low levels of melatonin, but studies have not been done to see of the levels are related to their sleep problems.
In this study, there were 26 children with autism who were the participants. They were not on any medication, did not have any history of epilepsy or any form of mental retardation. There were seven children in a control group who were matched to the first group by age. They studied the connection between one of the by-products of melatonin that is found in the urine and called urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-SM) and the sleep patterns in the children with autism, all between the ages of 4 to 9.
It was very important for the success of the study that the children all have a definite diagnosis of ASD and that they not be on any type of medication, because the medications can have an effect on the production of melatonin.
.The researchers analyzed what the overnight rate of 6-SM in the urine were over the space of two nights. They then compared them with the findings from sleep studies that showed that children who had higher levels of 6-SM also had higher amounts of deep sleep, which is the sleep pattern that is involved in the memory and growth.
The results suggest that children who have ASD and also have a decrease in melatonin levels, also have a lower level of deep sleep. They did not give the children any of the supplements, just measured the levels of naturally occurring melatonin in the body, but the inference is that supplements might be of some benefit.
They wanted to have some scientific basis in place that shows that there is a possibility of such an connection before they start on the next trial which will be testing the melatonin supplements with the autistic children.
The lead researcher on the project is Beth Malow, M.D., director of the Vanderbilt Sleep Disorders Center Some of the other members of the team are Liya Beyderman and Emmanuel Botzolakis.
Source: Vanderbilt University Medical Center http://newswise.com/
Published by Regina Sass
I have been writing, editing and doing advertising online for 10 years. I have been a gardener for more than 50 years. I am a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. View profile
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