Melatonin Benefits

Melatonin — The Multi-Benefit Supplement

The American Institute for Biosocial and Medical Research (AIBMR), an independent research group today announced the results of an intensive two month review of scientific research reported on melatonin during the last two years.

Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by the body. Its secretion is inhibited by environmental light and stimulated by darkness, therefore, melatonin production peaks at night. Research indicates that the natural production of melatonin decreases with age. Melatonin has received substantial publicity for its ability to regulate natural sleep patterns and as an anti-oxidant.

Areas reviewed by AIBMR scientists included studies on sleep, air travel, anti-oxidant effects, growth hormones, and cancer.

SLEEP — Nine studies were reviewed. AIBMR concluded that the use of melatonin as a sleep aid is well documented. Studies of low dose, oral melatonin (0.3 -1.0mg.) in healthy adult volunteers given melatonin consistently shows that time to sleep onset, stage-2 sleep, and REM sleep are decreased without affecting the percentage of time in REM sleep or alertness after waking. These data support the hypothesis that melatonin has a hypnotic effect at low dosages without producing a “”hang-over,”" in healthy adults. Institutionalized children, and those with severe learning disorders often have irregular sleep-wake patterns. There is preliminary evidence that melatonin administration might result in improvements for both the child and the caregivers.

AIR TRAVEL — Four studies continue to support the benefit of melatonin in minimizing desynchronization due to air travel over time zones (jet lag). The usual symptoms of jet lag include: loss of appetite, distorted estimation of time, distance and space, irritability, gastrointestinal disturbances, disorientation, difficulties concentrating, depression, and sleep disorders. Even elite world-class athletes, who might eventually travel over many time zones to compete in such events as the Olympics, have been studied to determine if melatonin can benefit them by raising their body temperature to coincide with their competitive schedules. Already many top athletes take melatonin regularly to reduce the negative symptoms associated with jet lag.

ANTI-OXIDANT — Fifteen studies addressing the use of melatonin as an antioxidant were reviewed. Melatonin has been reported to be an effective free radical scavenger. The studies reviewed indicate that providing supplemental melatonin during periods of massive free radical production greatly lowers the resulting tissue damage due to free radicals during an antioxidant challenge. Melatonin is readily absorbed and crosses the blood-brain barrier and the placenta, and it seems to enter all parts of every cell where it prevents oxidative damage. The reduction of melatonin levels with age may be a factor in increased oxidative damage in the elderly.

GROWTH HORMONE — Seven studies were reviewed relative to melatonin and growth hormones. Evidence is accumulating that the nocturnal increase of melatonin may influence pituitary hormone secretion. This may contribute to changes in the level of growth hormones, oxytocin, and vasopressin being released in a 24-hour period. Melatonin reportedly regulates the release of growth hormone in men and prevents phototherapy-induced hypocalcemia (low calcium levels) in newborn rats suggesting that melatonin might even have an affect on bone metabolism in humans.

CANCER — AIBMR found four studies reporting that melatonin might inhibit cancer of the breast, lung, brain, and prostate. Recent observations have shown that melatonin may modulate estrogen receptor expression and inhibit breast cancer cell growth. Preliminary data suggests that melatonin might enhance the anti-tumor activity of tamoxifen (a drug used to treat breast cancer). In a pilot phase II human study, the administration of 20 mg of melatonin at bedtime taken along with tamoxifen showed tumor regression in women. Another study showed that neuroimmunotherapy with interluekin-2 and melatonin may represent a new effective way to treat metastasis non-small cell lung cancer.

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