| Insomnia in pregnancy is associated with depression, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm labor. In normal pregnancies, maternal plasma melatonin levels increase significantly as pregnancy proceeds, reaching its peak near term. However, the role of melatonin in insomnia during pregnancy is not known. The objective of this study was to measure nocturnal saliva melatonin levels in pregnant women with and without insomnia. Results did not show a significant difference in melatonin levels between insomniac (treated and untreated) and healthy pregnant women in all trimesters. However, sub-group analysis showed significantly lower melatonin levels in untreated insomniac pregnancies compared to healthy pregnancies and those treated with sleep medications. Results of this study confirmed lower levels of nocturnal melatonin in untreated pregnancies with insomnia. Future research is needed to investigate the safety and efficacy of melatonin supplementation for the treatment of insomnia in pregnancy, replacing psychotropic drugs. |
