Melatonin and Its Many Uses

Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland, a gland about the size of a pea located in the center of the brain.

Production of melatonin by the pineal gland is inhibited by light and stimulated by darkness. For this reason melatonin has been called "the hormone of darkness" and its onset each evening is called the Dim-Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO).

It helps regulate other hormones and maintains the body's circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is an internal 24-hour “clock” that plays a critical role in when we fall asleep and when we wake up. When it is dark, your body produces more melatonin; when it is light, the production of melatonin drops. Being exposed to bright lights in the evening or too little light during the day can disrupt the body’s normal melatonin cycles. For example, jet lag, shift work, and poor vision can disrupt melatonin cycles.

Melatonin also helps control the timing and release of female reproductive hormones. It helps determine when a woman starts to menstruate, the frequency and duration of menstrual cycles, and when a woman stops menstruating (menopause).

Some Ways Melatonin is Used:

Insomnia 

The hormone melatonin is used to treat circadian rhythm sleep disorders and some types of insomnia.

Studies suggest that melatonin supplements may help people with disrupted circadian rhythms (such as people with jet lag or those who work the night shift) and those with low melatonin levels (such as some seniors and people with schizophrenia) to sleep better.

A number of human studies have measured the effects of melatonin supplements on sleep in healthy people. A wide range of doses has been used, often taken by mouth 30 - 60 minutes prior to sleep time. Results have been mixed. Some evidence suggests that melatonin may work best for people over 55 who have insomnia.

One study of 334 people aged 55 and older found that sustained-release melatonin seemed to help people fall asleep faster, sleep better, be more alert in the morning, and improve quality of life in people with primary insomnia.

Studies have found that the use of melatonin can help train the circadian clock to conform to your environmental cycles and has beneficial effects for the treatment of certain forms of insomnia.

Some evidence suggests that melatonin may help promote sleep in children in ADHD, although it does not seem to improve the behavioral symptoms of ADHD. 
Immune System Booster

Melatonin has strong antioxidant effects. Preliminary evidence suggests that it may help strengthen the immune system. Immune system cells are typically very vulnerable to free radical damage.

Some researchers also believe that melatonin levels may also help slow the aging process. For example, young children have the highest levels of nighttime melatonin. Researchers believe these levels drop as we age.

Menopause

Melatonin supplements may help with sleep problems associated with menopause. However, it does not appear to relieve other symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes.

Headaches

Several clinical studies indicate that supplementation with melatonin is an effective preventive treatment for migraines and cluster headaches.

Mood Disorders

Melatonin has been shown to be effective in treating one form of depression, seasonal affective disorder,[68] and is being considered for bipolar and other disorders where circadian disturbances are involved.

Cancer

Clinical trials involving a total of 643 cancer patients using melatonin found a reduced incidence of death. Another clinical trial is due to be completed in 2012. It has been shown that women with the brightest bedrooms have an increased risk for breast cancer. Reduced melatonin production has been proposed as a likely factor in the significantly higher cancer rates in night workers.

Several studies suggest that melatonin levels may be associated with breast cancer risk. For example, women with breast cancer tend to have lower levels of melatonin than those without the disease. Laboratory experiments have found that low levels of melatonin stimulate the growth of certain types of breast cancer cells, while adding melatonin to these cells slows their growth. Preliminary evidence also suggests that melatonin may strengthen the effects of some chemotherapy drugs used to treat breast cancer.

Studies show that people with prostate cancer have lower melatonin levels than men without the disease. In test tube studies, melatonin blocks the growth of prostate cancer cells. In one small-scale study, melatonin -- combined with conventional medical treatment -- improved survival rates in 9 out of 14 men with metastatic prostate cancer.



Gallstones 

Melatonin presence in the gallbladder has many protective properties, such as converting cholesterol to bile, preventing oxidative stress, and increasing the mobility of gallstones from the gallbladder. It also decreases the amount of cholesterol produced in the gallbladder by regulating the cholesterol that passes through the intestinal wall.

Obesity

Melatonin is involved in the regulation of body weight, and may be helpful in treating obesity (especially when combined with calcium).

Melatonin appears to cause very few side effects when healthy people take it at low doses. A review in 2006 looked specifically at efficiency and safety in two categories of melatonin usage: first, for sleep disturbances and second for sleep disorders such as jet lag and shift work which accompany sleep disturbances.

How to Take It as an Aid for Insomnia

There is currently no recommended dose for melatonin supplements. Different people will have different responses to its effects. Lower doses appear to work better in people who are especially sensitive. Higher doses may cause anxiety and irritability.

The best approach for any condition is to begin with very low doses of melatonin. Keep the dose close to the amount that our bodies normally produce (< 0.3 mg per day). You should only use the lowest amount possible to achieve the desired effect. Your doctor can help you determine the most appropriate dose for your situation, including how to increase the amount, if needed.

Pediatric

Always check with your doctor before giving melatonin to a child. Keep doses to less than 0.3 mg/day. There has not been enough research done to say that doses greater than 0.3 mg per day are safe in children under age 15.

Adult Insomnia:

1 to 3 mg 1 hour before bedtime is usually effective, although doses as low as 0.1 -0.3 mg may improve sleep for some people. If 3 mg per night does not work after 3 days, try 5 - 6 mg 1 hour before bedtime. You should work with your doctor to find the safest and most effective dose for you. The right dose for you should produce restful sleep with no daytime irritability or fatigue.

Jet lag: 0.5 - 5 mg of melatonin 1 hour prior to bedtime at final destination has been used in several studies. Another approach that has been used is 1 - 5 mg 1 hour before bedtime for 2 days prior to departure and for 2 - 3 days upon arrival at final destination.

Caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol can all lower levels of melatonin in the body.  Melatrol  is a natural supplement that can offer you the many benefits of melatonin with little or no side effects.