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Aim: Melatonin is a potent free radical scavenger and an indirect antioxidant. Knowledge about the behavior of melatonin secretion in the early neonatal period, which may relate to its properties at a vital stage during very high antioxidant demands, is limited. Patients and Methods: We studied 35 newborns admitted to the Neonatal Unit with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and with no signs of sepsis, severe anemia, hemodynamic compromise or malformation. The gestational age of the newborns was 26–40 weeks (mean value 32.5 weeks) and the weight at birth was 870–4,400 g (mean value 1,800 g). They were classified into two groups: ≤1,500 g or >1,500 g birthweight. In all cases, at 09:00 h on their 1st, 3rd and 7th days of life, serum melatonin was measured by RIA. The clinical history was recorded and treatment and follow-up were performed according to established neonatology practice …