[The role of melatonin in the development of metabolic syndrome].

The level of 6-oxymelatonin sulfate, the main metabolite of melatonin (MT), in morning urine samples from patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) suggests enhanced MT production at night. This inference equally holds for aged and elderly patients despite their significantly impaired MT secretion due to age-related involution of the pineal gland. Correlation between MT hypersecretion and manifestations of MT activity also depends on the patients" age. MT test can be used as biological marker of MT and a prognostic factor of MS progress.