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Melatonin Deficiency

Meaning

Melatonin Deficiency is a clinical state characterized by insufficient nocturnal secretion of the neurohormone melatonin, primarily produced by the pineal gland, resulting in disruptions to the circadian rhythm and sleep-wake cycle. This deficiency can manifest as difficulty falling asleep, reduced sleep efficiency, or a non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder. Melatonin is a critical synchronizer of the body’s internal clock and a potent antioxidant, so a deficiency has implications beyond sleep, affecting immune function and cellular protection. Clinical assessment often requires a timed salivary or urinary measurement of its primary metabolite.