Title:Melatonin and Glucose Metabolism: Clinical Relevance
Volume: 20
Issue: 30
Author(s): Lardone P.J., Alvarez-Sanchez Sanchez N., Guerrero J.M. and Carrillo-Vico A.
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Diabetes, glucagon, glucose, insulin, melatonin, melatonin receptors, metabolic syndrome, oxidative stress.
Abstract: The role of melatonin in glucose homeostasis is an active area of investigation. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting
a link between disturbances in melatonin production and impaired insulin, glucose, lipid metabolism, and antioxidant capacity. Furthermore,
melatonin has been found to influence insulin secretion both in vivo and in vitro, and night-time melatonin levels are related to
night-time insulin concentrations in patients with diabetes. In several recent studies, a single nucleotide polymorphism of the human
melatonin receptor 1B has been described as being causally linked to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Taken together,
these data suggest that endogenous as well as exogenous melatonin may play a role in diabetes and associated metabolic disturbances not
only by regulating insulin secretion but also by providing protection against reactive oxygen species, considering pancreatic β-cells are
particularly susceptible to oxidative stress because they possess only low-antioxidative capacity.
