Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
2740590 
Journal Article 
Variable bioavailability of oral melatonin 
Di, WL; Kadva, A; Johnston, A; Silman, R 
1997 
1 
New England Journal of Medicine
ISSN: 0028-4793
EISSN: 1533-4406 
IPA/97/1124461 
Engl 
REF 4 
English 
IPA COPYRIGHT: ASHP The bioavailability of oral melatonin was studied by determining the pharmacokinetics of intravenous (IV) bolus and oral doses of the drug in 4 normal men (ages 21-32 yr) who were given 20 mcg of IV melatonin on 1 occasion and 500 mcg oral drug on a second occasion, with an interval of at least 1 month between the 2 occasions. The mean half-time of the elimination phase after oral administration was 47 min, but the peak plasma melatonin concentrations varied widely among the men, ranging from 480 to 9200 ng/l. The bioavailability of oral melatonin was poor and also varied among the men, ranging from 10 to 56%. Potential mechanisms of these results were briefly discussed.