What is Night Melatonin And Why Does the Hormone Zoomer Test for It?

Nocturnal pineal sleep hormone

Night Melatonin is the nocturnal rise in melatonin produced mainly by the pineal gland that signals biological night. It helps time sleep onset and coordinates daily rhythms across the body. Measuring nighttime melatonin gives clinicians information about circadian timing and how sleep signals align with other hormones and stress rhythms.

View Hormone Zoomer

Night Melatonin

Quality and Security

High-quality testing run in a CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited lab in Santa Clara, California.

fortified-health-HIPAA-compliance-pqgjtx4popoe2n0arp68hrz8h2as5rlhgng5b2srk8 1

About Night Melatonin

${ activeTab.tab_content.text }

View ${ activeTab.tab_content.btn_label }

About Night Melatonin

Overview and History

Melatonin (chemical name N‑acetyl‑5‑methoxytryptamine) is an indoleamine neurohormone synthesized from serotonin in the pineal gland. First isolated in the late 1950s, it is classified as a circadian signaling hormone that conveys information about light and dark to the brain and peripheral tissues. Core functions include signaling the onset of biological night to the central clock and peripheral tissues, helping to regulate sleep timing, and contributing antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects. Secretion rises in darkness and is suppressed by light; amplitude and timing are influenced by age, season, light exposure, and certain medications or metabolic states.

Interpreting Highs and Lows

Low nighttime melatonin may be associated with reduced nocturnal signaling or shifted circadian phase. Common patterns linked to lower levels include excessive light exposure at night, shift work or irregular schedules, aging-related declines in secretion, certain medications that alter synthesis or metabolism, and disrupted pineal signaling. Elevated night melatonin can reflect exogenous supplementation, altered clearance or timing of the nocturnal surge, or atypical circadian phase. Interpretation depends on timing of the sample, concurrent cortisol rhythms, medication use, and the wider Hormone Zoomer profile; isolated melatonin changes are most informative when considered with other hormonal and lifestyle data.

Featured Test

Nighttime melatonin is included in the Hormone Zoomer to evaluate nocturnal sleep signaling and circadian phase alongside cortisol timing and hormone metabolism. Its measurement helps map how the sleep/wake signal aligns with adrenal activity and metabolic pathways, aiding providers in identifying timing-related patterns that contribute to sleep, mood, and energy variability.

View Hormone Zoomer

Night Melatonin FAQs

What is Night Melatonin and why is it important?

Night Melatonin is the natural nighttime rise in melatonin that tells the body it’s time for sleep. It helps synchronize the body’s internal clocks and influences sleep onset and timing. Knowing nighttime melatonin levels helps clarify whether sleep signaling and circadian timing are aligned with daily activities and other hormones.

What does it mean if my Night Melatonin levels are low?

Low nighttime melatonin suggests weaker or shifted nocturnal signaling. This pattern is commonly associated with light exposure at night, irregular sleep schedules or shift work, age-related declines, or medications that affect melatonin production. Results are most meaningful when reviewed with other Hormone Zoomer measures and clinical context.

What does it mean if my Night Melatonin levels are high?

Higher nighttime melatonin can reflect recent melatonin use, an unusually large or mistimed nocturnal surge, or altered metabolism and clearance. Elevated values should be interpreted alongside sample timing, medication and supplement history, and the rest of the hormonal profile to understand whether the pattern is physiological or external.

Why is Night Melatonin included in the Hormone Zoomer?

Measuring nighttime melatonin lets providers map circadian phase and sleep signaling against cortisol rhythms, sex hormone patterns, and metabolic markers. This helps identify timing mismatches or regulatory patterns that contribute to sleep disruption, energy shifts, or hormonal imbalance and supports more precise, pattern‑based evaluation.

Browse Articles

Introducing Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) Thumbnail

Introducing the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR): Raising the Bar in Hormone Health Insights

Hormones regulate nearly every system in the body, metabolism, mood, sleep, fertility, and resilience to stress. When these rhythms are disrupted, the...

Christopher McLaughlin

Nov 4, 2025

Hormones Research & Innovation

Menopause: Managing Autoimmunity in the Post-Ovarian Centric Landscape

For women, menopause marks the end of reproductive capacity, but not the end of hormone activity. Once ovarian hormone production stops, the body depe...

Alison Bame, RD, CFMP

Sep 8, 2025

Hormones

When Hormone Cycles Collide with Autoimmunity

Understanding Menstrual-Driven Immune Flares and Clinical Testing Strategies Many women with autoimmune conditions report that their autoimmune sympto...

Alison Bame, RD, CFMP

Jul 14, 2025

Hormones Autoimmunity

Endocrine Disruptors & Hormone Imbalance: What You Don’t Eliminate Can Hurt You

When it comes to hormone health, the hormones that your body makes are only half the story. What the body eliminates—or doesn’t—is just as critical. E...

Kate Motz, FDN-P, NBC-HWC

Jul 14, 2025

Hormones

About Vibrant:

The Experts Behind  Every Test

Our team is built on collaboration across disciplines to advance the science of wellness and longevity. At Vibrant Wellness, lab scientists, technologists, clinical researchers, doctors, practitioners, longevity advisors, engineers, and regulatory experts work side by side to transform diagnostics.

By uniting diverse expertise under one mission, we pioneer precision testing that empowers providers to uncover root causes, personalize care plans, and optimize patient health outcomes. Every test we develop reflects this commitment—to push boundaries in functional medicine, deliver clear, actionable insights, and support clinicians in helping patients live healthier, longer lives.

View All Tests

Results trusted by over 18,000 functional wellness professionals

We’re the leading provider of specialty wellness lab testing because we develop our testing with rigorous, ongoing research by top clinical experts, doctors, and scientists.

The gold standard of accuracy in  the lab industry

Our tests run on a proprietary 3Dense microchip technology platform that boasts unrivaled specificity and sensitivity. While most other labs carry only CLIA certification, we're CAP-accredited by the College of American Pathologists.

Our Clinical Support Team

We understand that patient care doesn't end with diagnosis. To achieve Vibrant health, patients need clinical support and
obtainable lifestyle changes. Our clinical support team helps providers make informed treatment recommendations, resulting in  better patient outcomes.

Mary Beth Augustine

DCN, RDN, FAND- Lead Clinical Educator

Suzanne Barker

MS, RDN, LD, CTTS, CGP- Clinical Educator

Suzette Garcia

MSc- MHNE- Clinical Educator

Brooke Mader Ganev

MS, CNS, LDN, FDN- Clinical Educator

Adair Anderson

MS, RDN, LDN- Clinical Educator

Lillie Luu Nguyen

DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator

Jason Barker

ND- Clinical Educator

Emaline Brown

ND- Clinical Educator

Dana Filatova

DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator

Jessy Dhanjal

ND- Clinical Educator

Nour Amri

MS, LDN, CNS, CKNS- Clinical Educator

Ready to Elevate Your Approach to Precision Wellness?

At Vibrant Wellness, we’re redefining the future of diagnostics—making complex science clear, accessible, and actionable. Whether you're a provider advancing personalized care or a patient seeking data-driven answers, our precision testing gives you the clarity to make informed decisions. Experience the next generation of functional medicine through clinically validated insights and seamless testing solutions.

Become a Provider

Become a Patient