IMPAIRED NOCTURNAL SECRETION OF MELATONIN IN CORONARY HEART-DISEASE

Patients with coronary heart disease have increased nocturnal urinary noradrenaline. Because melatonin suppresses sympathetic activity, we m easured serum melatonin concentrations at night (0200 h) in 15 patient s with coronary heart disease. Melatonin was significantly lower in th e patients than in 10 healthy controls (median 7.8 [interquartile rang e 6.5-11.8] vs 36.2 [32.2-42.5] pg/mL, p<0.0001). Thus, impaired noctu rnal secretion of melatonin is associated with coronary heart disease. Patients disease nocturnal noradrenaline.