Melatonin-Related Disorders

Melatonin-related disorders are not an official medical category, but clinicians and researchers use this to describe conditions characterized by an imbalance — either too little or too much — of the hormone melatonin. These imbalances are typically categorized into two main states:

• Hypomelatoninemia (low melatonin), a deficiency where the body produces lower-than-usual levels of melatonin, is often linked to: aging, sleep disorders, neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s), and mental health conditions (depression, schizophrenia, autism, bipolar disorder).
• Hypermelatoninemia (high melatonin), excessive levels of melatonin in the blood (rare as a natural condition), is most commonly caused by over-supplementation. It’s sometimes associated with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), eating disorders (especially anorexia nervosa), and rare genetic syndromes.
• Receptor-related dysfunction: In some cases, the body produces enough melatonin, but key receptors(MT1 and MT2) don’t respond correctly. This has been linked to increased risks for Type 2 Diabetes and certain mood disorders.