@article{Saavedra-López_García-Pérez_Arteaga-Díaz_2022, title={One thousand and one nights of melatonin}, volume={8}, url={https://revistaendocrino.org/index.php/rcedm/article/view/725}, DOI={10.53853/encr.8.4.725}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Background:</strong> Melatonin was first introduced in 1958 by dermatologist Aaron Lerner from a bovine pineal gland. Around 1970 was discovered its role in the regulation of the circadian rhythm and sleep-wake states, a role on which most clinical studies have focused. Its synthesis occurs from tryptophan through hydroxylation and acetylation processes,<br />later converted into melatonin. Since its discovery, multiple effects have been raised, all based on its effects as a regulator of oxidative stress; that is why clinical studies show that the supplementation of this hormone, in addition to regulating the circadian rhythm, has possible effects in the management of chronic non-communicable diseases<br /><strong>Objective:</strong> To report new evidence about the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of melatonin and discuss its possible therapeutic use.<br /><strong>Methodology:</strong> Literature review in the PubMed and Scopus database using the MeSH terms: “melatonin”; "circadian clocks"; "circadian rhythm"; "Cancer"; “oxidative stress”.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> There is great bibliographic evidence about the history of melatonin and its possible metabolic effects, which goes in line with its role as a regulator of the circadian rhythm, through the sleep-wake and light-dark states.<br /><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Melatonin can serve as an adjuvant in the management of chronic diseases such as cancer, obesity, fatty liver disease, mucositis and in the management of critically ill patients.</p> <p><iframe title="Las mil y una noches de la melatonina" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IR_P96FSTAI" width="473" height="841" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>}, number={4}, journal={Revista Colombiana de Endocrinología, Diabetes & Metabolismo}, author={Saavedra-López, Harold Felipe and García-Pérez, María Juliana and Arteaga-Díaz, Juan Manuel}, year={2022}, month={Feb.} }