Dr. Jonny Bowden

Tag: melatonin

  • Melatonin: So Much More Than A Sleep Aid

    Melatonin: So Much More Than A Sleep Aid

    Here’s a riddle for you: Why do blind women get breast cancer at about half the rate that sighted women do?

    We think it has to do with two things: light, and a hormone called melatonin.

    Most people who have heard of melatonin know it as a supplement that can help with sleep (which it definitely can). And it’s great for jet lag. But the melatonin story is a lot more interesting– and complicated– than its ability to serve as a natural cure for insomnia.

    Melatonin may have a role in protecting you against cancer. It also supports the immune system and is one of the most powerful antioxidants we know of. It protects cell membranes even more than vitamin E does, and is more effective than glutathione (an important antioxidant in the body) at neutralizing a deadly free radical that causes oxidative damage, hydroxyl radicals.

    So although melatonin is not by itself a miracle anti-aging supplement, it helps protect against a number of age-robbers.

    Take sleep, for example.

    During sleep, a great deal of cellular damage that occurs during the day is repaired and that repair process is initiated by secretions of melatonin. And because disturbed sleep so often accompanies aging, anything that can help us sleep better (with ancillary benefits to boot and no side effects) might be something to take note of. Melatonin definitely fits the bill.

    Poor sleep quality reduces the secretion of growth hormone, an important hormone that helps us keep muscle and lose fat. It may also raise levels of stress hormones such as cortisol.Lack of rest or disruption of normal sleep patterns can increase hunger, leading to obesity-related illnesses and accelerated aging. Because melatonin is so helpful in getting a good night’s sleep, the use of melatonin as a supplement may have far-reaching consequences for many of the conditions that interfere with healthy aging.

    And if all this weren’t enough, melatonin may also be good for the heart. Researchers tested melatonin supplements on women aged forty-seven to sixty-three and found that supplementation improved the “day-night” rhythm of blood pressure, significantly decreasing nighttime blood pressure.

    “Melatonin, in addition to being an incredibly powerful antioxidant, may well turn out to be cardio-protective”, says Beth Traylor, MD, of Cenegenics Medical Institute.

    Melatonin is a hugely important hormone with many overlapping benefits. virtually everyone over the age of forty doesn’t make enough, and taking a little extra doesn’t seem to have any negative side effects.

    Melatonin has been used successfully as a supplement for sleep in doses from as low as 0.1 mg to as much as 10mg.

  • Melatonin: The New Anti-Aging Supplement?

    Melatonin: The New Anti-Aging Supplement?

    Melatonin is a supplement widely used to combat jet lag and alleviate short-term bouts of insomnia. There is also evidence that melatonin as a regular dietary supplement could have antioxidant effects and help slow down the aging process.

    Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland of the body. Due to its light-transducing ability, the pineal gland is sometimes called the “third eye.” Light absorbed through the retina is relayed to the brain and thusly the pineal gland. The onset of darkness triggers the pineal gland to release melatonin into the bloodstream, which helps to induce sleep in individuals.

    Younger people, especially children, produce a large amount of melatonin, which is generally why babies can sleep so much. This ability to fall asleep quickly and sleep deeply has benefits for the growing body, allowing cells to rejuvenate and the body to grow and heal. As individuals age, melatonin production decreases. This can be why many older adults have difficulty falling asleep or seem to need less sleep.

    Study after study indicates that lack of sleep can lead to myriad health problems, including mental health deficits, added stress, heart disease, and others. Each of these conditions can contribute to the aging process. It makes sense, then, that getting frequent and restful sleep can help turn back the clock.

    But that isn’t the only benefit of melatonin, say experts. According to “The Aging Clock: The Pineal Gland and Other Pacemakers in the Progression of Aging and Carcinogenesis,” by Dr. Walter Pierpaoli, melatonin is the “Master Hormone-Modulating Molecule.” It is the regulator of almost all hormones in the body in addition to regulating the circadian cycles. Pierpaoli has found that “aging” is a degenerative condition of the body, not just the passing of years. Resetting the body’s age clock can slow down the symptoms of aging.

    When the pineal gland of an old animal is transplanted into a young animal, studies show that the young animal slows down and systems of the body function as if it were older. The reverse also applies. Pierpaoli surmises that melatonin sends a message of “youth” throughout the body, keeping the body healthy and strong.

    With this reasoning, melatonin may also help stimulate the immune system, which can promote better overall health, including fending off certain diseases of old age. These include cancers and even dementias. Clinical trials have shown that melatonin can diminish the effects of hormones that trigger certain cancers, including breast cancer and prostate cancer.

    According to “Melatonin and the aging brain,” by Stephen Bondy and Edward Sharman, “Melatonin has potential utility both in slowing normal brain aging and in treatment of neurodegenerative conditions. This is reinforced by the low cost of melatonin and its very low toxic hazard.”

    Research is still ongoing into the many benefits of melatonin.

    While it is best not to start any supplement program without first asking a doctor (especially if a person is pregnant or has other medical conditions), those who want to take melatonin should look for the synthetic variety. These are made from plant material to mimic melatonin produced in the body. Animal-based melatonin can contain diseases and other pathogens.

    A relatively small amount of melatonin is needed to produce large effects. Doses from as little as .3 to as high as 6-10 mg have been recommended but I personally find that the dose of 3 mg is a great place to start and will work wonderfully for most people.