LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Melatonin: Low Melatonin
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Melatonin is a natural hormone made by your body's pineal gland - a pea-sized gland located just above the middle of the brain. During the day the pineal is inactive. When the sun goes down and darkness occurs, the pineal is "turned on" and begins to actively produce melatonin, which is released into the blood. Usually, this occurs around 9 p.m. As a result, melatonin levels in the blood rise sharply and you begin to feel less alert. Sleep becomes more inviting. Melatonin levels in the blood stay elevated for about 12 hours - all through the night - before the light of a new day when they fall back to low daytime levels by about 9 a.m. Daytime levels of melatonin are barely detectable.
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Melatonin is a natural hormone that is released by the pineal gland (a tiny structure located at the base of the brain) in response to darkness. Conversely, the release of melatonin is inhibited by light. According to Dr. Jerry Murray, "Melatonin directly and indirectly activates the breeding season (spring/summer) during the 'long day' photoperiods, and it terminates the breeding season (fall/winter) during the 'short day' photoperiods. In the fall/winter there is more melatonin released during the dark time, and less released in the spring/summer. In addition to the breeding season, the increased melatonin causes the winter fur to come in and for the winter weight gain. Likewise the low levels cause the summer fur to come in and the summer weight loss."
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Melatonin levels may play a role in the symptoms of anorexia. For example, abnormally low melatonin levels may cause depressed mood in people with this condition. However, it is not known whether supplementation will change the course of the disease. Some researchers speculate that low melatonin levels in people with anorexia may indicate who is likely to benefit from antidepressant medications (a treatment often used for eating disorders).
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Melatonin ... controls the timing and release of female reproductive hormones, affecting menstrual cycles, menarche, and menopause. Overall levels of melatonin in the body also respond to the process of aging. Children have the highest levels of nocturnal melatonin; as adults age, their nocturnal melatonin levels get lower and lower, which means they go to sleep and wake up earlier, and may suffer from disrupted sleep patterns.
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Melatonin is probably not a major regulator of normal sleep patterns, but undoubtedly has some effect. One topic that has garnered a large amount of interest is using melatonin alone, or in combination with phototherapy, to treat sleep disorders. There is some indication that melatonin levels are lower in elderly insomniacs relative to age matched non-insomniacs, and melatonin therapy in such cases appears modestly beneficial in correcting the problem.
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Melatonin is naturally secreted by the pineal gland located at the base of the brain. The body's natural production of Melatonin produces peak levels in the early morning (between 2:00 and 4:00 am) and its lowest levels in the afternoon.
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Low Melatonin