Melatonin and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Scoliosis seen in the chicken after pinealectomy resembles adolescent idiop athic scoliosis in man. It has been suggested that in both species, deficie ncy of the pineal hormone, melatonin, is responsible for this phenomenon. In nine patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and in ten age- and g ender-matched controls, the circadian levels of serum melatonin and the exc retion of urinary 6-hydroxy-melatonin-sulphate, the principal metabolite of melatonin, were determined. There were no statistically significant differ ences in the secretion of serum melatonin or the excretion of urinary 6-hyd roxy-melatonin-sulphate between the patients and the control group. The hyp othesis of melatonin deficiency as a causative factor in the aetiology of a dolescent idiopathic scoliosis cannot be supported by our data.