In the last few years, there have been significant evolutions in the understanding of the hormone melatonin in terms of its physiology, regulatory role, and potential utility in various domains of clinical medicine. Melatonin's properties include, among others, the regulation of mitochondrial function, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and neuro-protective effects, sleep promotion and immune enhancement. As it is also bioavailable and has little or no toxicity, it has been proposed as safe and effective for the treatment of numerous diseases and to preserve human health. In this manuscript, we tried to evaluate the role of melatonin at the beginning of human life, in pregnancy, in the fetus and in newborns through newly published literature studies.
Keywords: melatonin and circadian rhythm; melatonin during parturition; melatonin fetal health; melatonin gestational period; melatonin in breastfeeding; melatonin in fetal growth restriction; melatonin in gestational diabetes; melatonin in preeclampsia; melatonin in pregnancy; melatonin induction of labor; melatonin labor; melatonin neuroprotection.