Melatonin is a hormone that’s secreted by the pineal gland in the brain. It’s essential for quality sleep and healthy sleep-wake cycle. There’s 10-15 times more melatonin in the blood at night compared to the day time. Levels start to increase during the night when it’s dark, reaching the maximum in the early hours between 2am and 4am.
The highest concentration is found in the colon. Your gut has 400 times more melatonin than the pineal gland! Other than the gut and the pineal gland, researchers have found melatonin is also produced in the retina, skin, bone marrow and white blood cells.
Research suggests melatonin protects against viral and bacterial infections, reduces oxidative stress, lowers inflammation, slows down the aging process, increases healing after surgery, improves menopausal symptoms, and enhances brain function as we age.
Sleep has been described as our most powerful anti-oxidant, anti-aging, detox, repair and anti-inflammatory agent. Studies have shown that melatonin helps individuals fall asleep quicker, remain asleep, and prevent fatigue during the day.
• Cortisol buffer. Think of melatonin and cortisol like yin and yang. Melatonin (the yin) helps us relax and repair, and cortisol (the yang) keeps us alert, awake, on edge. Excess cortisol depletes melatonin.
High cortisol blocks or lowers the production of thyroid hormones, (particularly free T3, while increasing reverse T3), estrogen and progesterone, growth hormone and melatonin. Over time if the adrenals no longer continue high output, cortisol will decrease. Interestingly, low cortisol can hinder the conversion of serotonin to melatonin and cause sleep difficulty and high cortisol will cause melatonin levels to drop as well. Remember, when your body is in a state of fight or flight and “cortisol rules,” and your immune system is compromised.
• Healthy GI function. Decreased melatonin secretion is associated with increased intestinal permeability aka leaky gut and a marker of endotoxemia in alcoholics. [Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2015 Jun 15;308(12)]
Melatonin has been repeatedly shown to reduce symptoms of GERD, irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis, and prevent and heal gastric ulcers. Melatonin reduces gallbladder inflammation and inhibits gallstone formation by decreasing biliary levels of cholesterol and increasing the conversion of cholesterol into bile salts
• Heartburn. While it has a reputation as a sleep aid, fast-acting melatonin can also be used to treat heartburn. Your gastrointestinal tract (GI) makes melatonin, secreting up to 500 times as much your pineal gland. Because melatonin serves many functions in the GI system, it is often used to treat digestive issues like ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. Supplementing may alleviate symptoms of heartburn. Given the serious side effects associated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), it could be a safer alternative for heartburn sufferers.
• Stronger immune function by protecting against viral and bacterial infections.
• Protects against mitochondrial toxins, reduces inflammation, and lessens oxidative damage by shielding the brain and central nervous system from free radicals. Melatonin production also removes toxins from the brain such as mercury, aluminum, cadmium, viruses, parasites and bacteria at night during deep sleep.
Melatonin has a modulating effect for inflammatory cytokines like Th17, TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B — it’s a potent antioxidant the brain uses to heal itself, which is especially helpful in reducing inflammation with any type of brain trauma.
• Cancer prevention. Protects against breast, prostate, testicular, ovarian and endometrial cancer, and suppresses the growth of breast cancer tumors. Several researchers have used melatonin as an adjunct with chemotherapy, and found it reduces side effects and increases the effectiveness of chemo as well.
According to Dr. Sara Gottfried, MD, melatonin lowers excess estrogen and may prevent breast cancer. Low melatonin has also been linked to other estrogen dependent cancer like endometrial cancer.
• Oral health. An increase in melatonin in the saliva protects periodontal function, and is useful for treatment of bacterial, fungi and viral infections of the oral mucosa and periodontal diseases, oral cancer and wounds from tooth extraction. There are some studies reporting that melatonin enhances the success of dental implant procedures.
• A study published in the Journal of Pineal Research showed that melatonin was very effective in preventing cataracts and supporting healthy vision.
• Melatonin is important in maintaining the endothelium (the lining of the blood vessel), which can help to lower high blood pressure.
• Less dependence on benzodiazepines drugs without major side effects; and beneficial at reducing the metabolic side effects of antipsychotic drugs.
• Beneficial as an anti-aging therapy for age-related bone loss. Poor sleep quality leads to an increase in the activity of osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone).
• Reduced occurrence of migraine attacks and cluster headaches, and helpful for tinnitus.
• Counteracts age-induced cognitive decline, slows down brain aging and more! Melatonin can limit the severity of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. In the 2013 Journal of Pineal Research, scientists reported that melatonin has metabolic benefits in treating diabetes and hyperlipidemia.
Before contemplating melatonin supplementation, consider nutrition, your environment and metabolic and lifestyle disruptors
Impaired detoxification. The brain has its own internal detoxing system called the glymphatic system that turns on when we’re asleep and clears away toxins and waste products that could be responsible for neurological disorders and brain diseases like Alzheimer’s. The glymphatic system is 10 times more active during sleep compared to when you’re awake.
Like other hormones, melatonin levels decline as we age even if we’re doing all the right things. So, by the time we reach age 40-50, chances are pretty good we’re low, especially since the half-life of melatonin is only one hour.
Here’s how to increase your production of melatonin naturally
*** Before melatonin supplementation, I encourage you to consider the above info along with these Natural Sleep Remedies to Cure Insomnia
It’s best to start with a small dose. Melatonin-B6/Mg by Biotics Research contains melatonin, B6 in the P-5-P form, and magnesium glycinate. Always start with a half tablet or small dose (0.25 to 0.5 mg) taken one to two hours before bedtime, and see how your body responds. Doses of 1.5 to 3 mg at night is a very safe and effective dose, and allows your body a chance to use the supplement, yet still make its own hormone. Listen to your body, and if you start feeling more alert, you’ve likely taken too much and need to lower your dose.
As a caveat, some people feel sluggish after taking melatonin. Pulsing small amounts and reducing the dose further generally takes care of that.
You’ll be hearing more about the power of melatonin in the years to come, but for now… a good night’s sleep, cortisol and inflammation reduction, immune modulation, and increases in cognitive protection are some reasons to consider melatonin.
Wellness Video: Try this at Night for Better Sleep