Melatonin is produced primarily in the pineal gland and it is responsible for regulating our circadian rhythm. Due to it our body knows when it has time to rest and when it should wake up from sleep. This hormone regulates the cycles and phases of our rest.
People suffering from various sleep disorders usually have a reduced level of melatonin compared to people who sleep without any problems. Melatonin improves falling asleep, improves general well-being and reduces the number of awakenings during the night. Melatonin is worth applying to people who have shifted sleep-awake phases.
This hormone is not limited only to the regulation of sleep. It has many other properties that make it very much needed in our body.
Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant; it eliminates free radicals, thus delaying the aging process. It strengthens the heart and lowers blood pressure, reducing the risk of hypertension, atherosclerosis, as well as diabetes. Is also prevents infractions and strokes, and eliminates the effects of stress hormone malfunction. What’s more, is also improves immunity and slows down the development of tumours.
Melatonin is recommended for the treatment of sleep disorders. This hormone helps regulate the sleep and awake phases. However, apart from the foregoing properties, it has several advantages. In vivo studies show that melatonin prevents bone demineralization and thus strengthens them.
Bone restoration process is affected by the daily biological clock. Cells that break down our bones (osteoclasts) are more active at night, and those that are responsible for the reconstruction and formation of bone tissue (osteoblasts) are more active during the day. As we age, we sleep less, and cells that have the ability to dissolve our bones become more active. This leads to an accelerated process of their decomposition. It is known that melatonin affects the daily sleep-awake phase and helps adjust our internal biological clock accordingly. Researchers suspect that melatonin supplementation would allow these processes to be adjusted, thereby reducing osteoclast activity and slowing down the breakdown of bones.
In addition to the already mentioned sleep regulation, melatonin also has immunomodulatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties.
Symptoms of melatonin deficiency:
Its effects include epilepsy, depression, tendency to hallucinate but also dysregulation of metabolism, fast weight gain. The long-term effect of low melatonin levels is also a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as different types of tumours.
Supplementation with melatonin:Supplements which contain melatonin:
Melatonin 3 mg 120 capsules (Puritan’s Pride) – product available here
Contraindications:
It is not recommended for pregnant women or nursing women, as well as for those suffering from hypersensitivity to melatonin or severe allergies. It is also not recommended for people struggling with autoimmune diseases, lymphatic system tumors or liver diseases. Additional doses of melatonin should not be consumed by children or persons under the influence of alcoholic beverages.