Therapeutic Applications of Melatonin in Pediatrics

Melatonin actions described in experimental studies include the regulation of circadian rhythms (i.e., sleep/alertness or body temperature) (Arendt and Skene, 2005; Cagnacci et al., 1992), effects on reproductive physiology (Reiter et al., 2009), and antioxidant properties (Allegra et al., 2003) among other properties (Macchi and Bruce, 2004). This variety of actions has encouraged the study of its possible clinical applications in different pathologies. A review of the clinical trials carried out to assess the possible usefulness of melatonin as a therapeutic drug can be found in the article of Sanchez-Barcelo et al. (2010). Pediatrics is also listed among the medical areas investigating possible applications of melatonin. Gitto et al. (2011) and Sanchez-Barcelo et al. (2011) recently published review articles analyzing the clinical uses of melatonin in pediatrics. Since this book focuses on the neuroprotective effects of melatonin, we are now going to review the clinical uses of melatonin in pediatric pathologies involving the central neural system, including epilepsy and sleep disorders, as well as in clinical practices such as anesthesia.