Melatonin

Melatonin, also known chemically as N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine,is a naturally occurring compound found in animals, plants, and microbes.In animals, circulating levels of the hormone melatonin vary in a daily cycle, thereby allowing the entrainment of the circadian rhythms of several biological functions. The molecule is synthesized in the brain by the pineal gland and in the gastrointestinal tract. Melatonin is also synthesized in other organisms including plants.

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• Melatonin is generally considered safe when used short-term and within the recommended dosages. There is no research on the long-term effects of melatonin supplements, particularly in higher doses.
• Some experts consider the doses commonly found in melatonin supplements, 3 to 5 milligrams, to be far too high and say that amounts in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 milligrams are more reasonable.
• Melatonin side effects may include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, headache, irritability, vivid dreams, and a temporary reduction in attention and balance. People shouldn't drive or use machinery for several hours after taking melatonin. Melatonin may cause abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting, lower blood pressure, and rarely, hallucinations or paranoia.
• Melatonin may increase the risk of blood clotting, so it should not be used by people using warfarin (Coumadin), other medications that influence blood clotting, or by people with clotting disorders.
• Melatonin influences the production of other hormones. It could theoretically interfere with normal sexual development, so it shouldn't be used by children unless they are under the supervision of a healthcare provider. For the same reason, it shouldn't be used by women who are trying to conceive or by pregnant or nursing women. Increased male breast size and reduced sperm count have also been reported. Melatonin may also affect insulin levels.

Melatonin can influence immune function and it's not known how it affects people with autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and type 1 diabetes.

Melatonin supplements may worsen the symptoms in people with depression, so people with depression should only use melatonin under the supervision of a health care provider. Melatonin is broken down by the liver, so people with liver disease should avoid melatonin.

Possible Drug Interactions

Melatonin may interact with the following drugs:

High blood pressure medication Drugs that suppress the immune system, such as cyclosporine Antidepressant medication Corticosteroids (used for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis) Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), and other drugs that cause sedation Herbs that cause sleepiness or drowsiness, such as kava kava and valerian The herb St. John's wort

• Melatonin is best known as the hormone that helps us sleep.
• stimulate natural "killer cells" by enhancing Interlukin-2 production.
• Cancer : Besides helping to increase longevity of cancer patients, they also report a better quality of life. It inhibits cancer cell growth and proliferation; it destroys cancer cells, stops angiogenesis (new tumor blood vessel growth), and prevents harmful forms of estrogen from stimulating cancer cell growth.
• Melatonin is believed to be responsible for the synchrony of circadian rhythm, modulating sleep patterns with day and night.
• antioxidant that protects tissues from oxidative damage by free radical elements. Further more, melatonin induces synthesis of endigenous antioxidants such as superoxide dismtase (SOD).
• protects the gastrointestinal tract from irritation, reduces stress-induced lesion formation and heals ulcer.
• anti-oxidant : Melatonin's antioxidant activity may reduce cellular damage such as in Parkinson's, as well as prevent cardiac arrhythmia and possibly increase longevity.
• Alzheimer's Disease : Melatonin inhibits the formation of plaques; however, melatonin, cannot reverse the formation of existing plaques, so is not useful in the treatment of the disease. Combination of regular physical activity and melatonin supplementation has been shown to provide a potent tool in the battle to prevent Alzheimer's disease.
• Migraine : melatonin is an effective treatment for migraine headaches.
• reduce delirium
• improve mood disorders such as SAD, bipolar disorder and some forms of depression.
• Vivid dreaming indicates melatonin is increasing REM restorative sleep
• heals gastritis and kills H. pylori.
• Can prevent ulcers, colitis, irritable bowel disease, and colon cancer.

Below are lists containing natural plant sources of melatonin. Melatonin content is in nanogram (ng) per gram of plant sample.

Table 1: Melatonin sources ( Rieter and Tan, 2002).

Table 2: Melatonin sources (Hardeland and Pandi-Perumal, 2005).

This information is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Always consult a medical professional regarding any medical problems and before undertaking any treatment or dietary changes.