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All - Melatonin
Melatonin Sal-FreeTM
Melatonin is a hormone manufactured from serotonin and
secreted by the pineal gland. Melatonin regulates the human biological
clock. The human biological clock (circadian rhythm) signals the
secretion of various hormones at certain times in order to regulate body
functions.
Melatonin plays a major role in the production of estrogen, testosterone
and possibly other hormones.15 It helps control the timing and
release of female reproductive hormones. It helps determine when
menstruation begins, the frequency and duration of menstrual cycles, and
when menstruation ends (menopause).
Many melatonin receptors are found in the body, which
explains its multiple functions as biological rhythms resynchronisation,
sleep induction, regulation of the blood vessels and even the ability to
alter the function of the immune system.
It is known to be helpful with insomnia and jet lag. It
may be useful in sleep disorders such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD),
insomnia and sleep disorders, associated with circadian
rhythm disturbances.6,15
Melatonin is a powerful anti-oxidant. Because of it's ability to
help keep harmful oxidation reactions from occurring, it may help prevent
the changes that lead to hypertension and heart attack as well as reduce
the risk of certain kinds of cancer.
Melatonin naturally decreases with age. Light affects melatonin production
and as night approaches, melatonin production increases, initiating sleep.
Bright light can acutely suppress human melatonin production.
Circadian Rhythms
.The circadian rhythm is the name given to 24 hour
physiological cycles in plants and animals. Some physiological
functions that are linked to this 24 hour cycle are sleeping, eating,
brain wave activity, hormone production and cell regeneration.
Melatonin acts to reinforce the functioning of the human circadian rhythm.
It can induce sleepiness and lower core body temperature as well as change
the timing of rhythms. It can change rhythms and maintain those changes in
most blind and some sighted people. It has been proven to be a
successful treatment for circadian rhythm disorders, particularly the
non-24-h sleep wake disorder of the blind.12
Insomnia
Adults with insomnia may have lower levels of melatonin.5.
Many studies have shown that melatonin is useful in helping
those with insomnia. Melatonin has no sedative effect for sleep if a
person's melatonin levels are normal.10,11 Some medical
practitioners have voiced concern that if you are not deficient and you
take melatonin, you could cause your body to stop making it's own
melatonin. For this reason, you may want to consider getting a home
test before taking melatonin.
Sleep Check
- test your melatonin
Melatonin is often
helpful for insomnia in the elderly because melatonin is deficient in a
large number of elderly insomniacs.
13 Melatonin is said to decrease with age.
Vitamin B12 affects melatonin secretion.14 It's possible
that the low levels of melatonin in the elderly may be related to their
Vitamin B12 status.
Jet Lag
A review of 10 medical studies concluded that melatonin is
very effective in reducing or eliminating the effects of jet lag.4
Night time shift workers
Shift workers may benefit from melatonin for
resynchronization of their sleep schedules.6
Diabetes
and blood sugar effects
The role of melatonin in human insulin regulation is poorly understood
however one
animal study determined that melatonin caused a rise in blood
sugars. The ability of melatonin to stimulate insulin output was dose
dependent. Higher doses of melatonin caused a significant rise in blood
sugars whereas lower levels caused no change. 2
One study found that giving diabetic patients melatonin supplementation may
have some benefit in controlling diabetic complications.1
Another
animal study reported that long-term melatonin administration
reduces high blood sugar and may help insulin resistance.3
Melatonin and Cancer
Melatonin is currently involved in several studies that
have been designed to determine a possible role in the treatment and
prevention of various types of cancer.
Circadian cycle of melatonin is closely related to immune
functions and its disturbance seems to induce a significant increase of
cancer incidence.8
Melatonin stimulates the immune system which can help fight cancer and may
be helpful in preventing cancers involving the reproductive system.15
CTV.ca | Hormone melatonin may slow breast cancer: study
Melatonin and Hair growth
Alternative Medicine Review: Melatonin increases anagen hair rate in women
with androgenetic alopecia or diffuse alopecia: results of a pilot
randomized controlled trial
Dosage:
Many alternative health care practioner's recommend between
1-3 mg at night-time. Currently, no toxic levels of melatonin have
been found.15
Melatonin and Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis or Besnier-Boeck disease is an immune system
disorder with no known cause. There are some small studies that
indicate that Sarcoidosis may be related to lyme disease.
Sarcoidosis causes small granulomas (growths). Melatonin appears to
be safe and effective for chronic sarcoidosis which is often unresponsive
to usual treatments.17
Melatonin and Quinolinic Acid
Melatonin neutralizes neurotoxicity induced by qui...[J Pineal Res. 2005]
- PubMed Result
Side Effects:
There are few side effects with melatonin however some
people have reported morning grogginess, undesired drowsiness,
sleepwalking and disorientation.
Interactions
Preliminary evidence suggests that melatonin may increase
the effect of blood thinning agents such as warfarin so this warrants
careful use among those using blood thinning agents, including supplements
and herbs that thin the blood.
Valporic Acid or Depakene (an anticonvulsant), Prozac (fluoxetine)
and corticosteroids such as prednisone and other synthetic drugs that are
related to cortisol may lower levels of melatonin.16 For more
information see:
MedlinePlus Herbs and Supplements: Melatonin
Cautions
Case reports suggest that people with epilepsy, and patients taking
warfarin may come to harm from melatonin. 4
Some researchers feel that until further study is done,
certain people should not use melatonin as a supplement because the
results are not well known. This includes people with severe
allergies or autoimmune diseases, including lupus, people with immune
system cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia, individuals with depression
or schizophrenia and healthy children who already produce adequate levels
of melatonin. It has been hypothesized that melatonin should not be taken
by nursing or pregnant women and those who wish to become pregnant may
also want to avoid it since it has been shown that high doses of melatonin
may act as a contraceptive.15, 7
Warnings: Before taking any supplements,
consult with your health care provider. This information is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. We do not accept any
responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences
arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information
contained herein.
References
1. Paskaloglu K, Sener G, Ayangolu-Dulger G., "Melatonin treatment
protects against diabetes-induced functional and biochemical changes in rat
aorta and corpus cavernosum.", Eur J Pharmacol. 2004 Sep 24;499(3):345-54.
Entrez PubMed
2. Fabis M, Pruszynska E, Mackowiak P., "In vivo and in situ action
of melatonin on insulin secretion and some metabolic implications in the
rat.", Pancreas. 2002 Aug;25(2):166-9.
Entrez PubMed
3. Nishida S, Segawa T, Murai I, Nakagawa S., "Long-term melatonin
administration reduces hyperinsulinemia and improves the altered fatty-acid
compositions in type 2 diabetic rats via the restoration of Delta-5
desaturase activity.", J Pineal Res. 2002 Jan;32(1):26-33.
Entrez PubMed
4. Herxheimer A, Petrie KJ., "Melatonin for the prevention and
treatment of jet lag.", Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(2):CD001520.
Entrez PubMed
5. Attenburrow ME, Dowling BA, Sharpley AL, Cowen PJ., "Case-control
study of evening melatonin concentration in primary insomnia.", BMJ. 1996
May 18;312(7041):1263-4.
Entrez PubMed
Case-control study of evening melatonin concentration in primary insomnia
-- Attenburrow et al. 312 (7041): 1263 -- BMJ
6. Folkard S, Arendt J, Clark M., "Can melatonin improve shift
workers' tolerance of the night shift?" , .Chronobiol Int. 1993
Oct;10(5):315-20.
Entrez PubMed
7. Skye Lininger, D.C., Editor in Chief, Jonathan Wright, M.D., Steve
Austin, N.D., Donald Brown, N.D. and Alan Gaby, M.D. "The Natural Pharmacy"
8. Kwiatkowski F, Abrial C, Gachon F, Chevrier R, Cure H, Chollet
P., "[Stress, cancer and circadian rhythm of melatonin.]", Pathol Biol
(Paris). 2005 Jun;53(5):269-72. Epub 2005 Jan 20.
Entrez PubMed
9. Lewy AJ, Sack RL, Singer CM., "Melatonin, light and chronobiological
disorders", Ciba Found Symp. 1985;117:231-52.
Entrez PubMed
10. Michael Murray, N.D., and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., "The Encyclopedia
of Natural Medicine".
11. Nave R, Peled R, Lavie P., "Melatonin improves evening napping.", Eur
J Pharmacol. 1995 Mar 6;275(2):213-6.
12. Arendt J., "Melatonin: characteristics, concerns, and
prospects.", Biol Rhythms. 2005 Aug;20(4):291-303.
Entrez PubMed
13. Haimov I., "Melatonin rhythm abnormalities and sleep disorders
in the elderly", .CNS Spectr. 2001 Jun;6(6):502-6.
Entrez PubMed
14. Honma K, Kohsaka M, Fukuda N, Morita N, Honma S. "Effects of
vitamin B12 on plasma melatonin rhythm in humans: increased light
sensitivity phase-advances the circadian clock?", Experientia. 1992 Aug
15;48(8):716-20.
Entrez PubMed
15. Phyllis A. Balch, CNC,
"Prescription for Nutritional Healing, A
practical A-To-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins Minerals,
Herbs and Food Supplements"
16. Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC, editor in chief, Alan R. Gaby, MD,
Steve Austin, ND, Forrest Batz PharmD, Eric Yarnell ND, Donald J. Brown
ND, George Constatine RPh, PhD, "A-Z guide to drug-herb-vitamin
interactions",
17. Pignone AM, Rosso AD, Fiori G, Matucci-Cerinic M, Becucci A,
Tempestini A, Livi R, Generini S, Gramigna L, Benvenuti C, Carossino AM,
Conforti ML, Perfetto F., "Melatonin is a safe and effective
treatment for chronic pulmonary and extrapulmonary sarcoidosis.", J
Pineal Res. 2006 Sep;41(2):95-100.
Melatonin is a safe and effective treatment for ch...[J Pineal Res. 2006]
- PubMed Result
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