Nocturnal secretion of melatonin (MLT) in patients with duodenal ulcer disease (DUD)

Melatonin (MLT) is thought to have gastroprotective properties particularly by stimulating bicarbonate secretion and antioxidative activity. In own study MLT nocturnal secretion (10 pm, 12 pm, 2 am and 4 am) was investigated in 39 patients with duodenal ulcer disease (DUD) within the period of autumn exacerbation of the disease and in 24 healthy subjects. H. pylori infection was excluded. Melatonin was determined in blood plasma with radioimmunological method. Lower MLT secretion was observed in DUD patients as compared with healthy subjects. The most significant differences were found at 2 am - 24,48 +/- 8,78 and 44.05 +/- 10,22 pg/ml, respectively (p < 0,01). These observations indicate that MLT may play an important role in DUD pathogenesis.