Melatonin

Melatonin

What is it?

• Melatonin is a hormone that helps control the sleep cycle.

What is it used for?

• The main use of melatonin is used to help symptoms of insomnia. It may also be effect for seasonal affective disorder, migraines, and reduce negative side effects of chemotherapy. Melatonin has also been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers (prostate, breast), act as a cardioprotective agent, decrease chronic pain, and to reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. epilepsy, and sunburns.

How does it work in the body?

• Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland. The secretion of melatonin is regulated by the body's circadian rhythm. When there is sunlight, less melatonin is produced and when there is darkness, more melatonin is produced.

Safety concerns, side effects, and precautions:

• Side effects: Melatonin cause headaches, drowsiness, trouble sleeping.

• disruptions in sleep patterns, nightmares, confusion/AMS, fast HR, red in face, itching, stomach cramps, low body temperature, dizziness, decreased libido, breast enlargement in men (gynecomastia), and reduced sperm count.

• Melatonin is not recommended for women who are pregnant and/or nursing or those struggling with depression.

Possible interactions:

• Could decrease the effects of antidepressants however further studies needed on humans to confirm this. Birth control could raise melatonin levels in the body. Additional supplementation of melatonin could result in too high of melatonin buildup. Melatonin can decrease the effectiveness of blood pressure medications or corticosteroids. When taken in combination with anticoagulants, there is higher chance of bleeding.

Dose:

• The typical adult dose of melatonin is 1-5 mg. Doses of 1 mg has been shown to be just as effective as higher doses.

Evidence for or against its different uses:

• Insomnia/sleep patterns: A review showed individuals (<18 years old) with sleep-onset insomnia and ADHD melatonin was effective in treating insomnia. A study of middle aged adults found that a prolonged release of melatonin can positively affect one's sleep schedule. Melatonin can also be a useful agent to help combat jet-lag.

• The majority of the studies included in a systematic review, found that upon arrival to the destination, it is best to take the melatonin close to the time of sleep. Seasonal affective disorder. More clinical research is needed to prove the clinical effect of melatonin on seasonal affective disorder.

• Migraines/chronic pain: A randomized control trial concluded that melatonin does not significantly help with migraine prevention. Reduce negative side effects of chemotherapy: A randomized control trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of melatonin supplementation on chemotherapy side effects. One hundred subjects were randomized to either receive chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy in conjunction with melatonin. The subjects receiving melatonin had better outcomes such as longer survival rate and less chemotherapy side effects.

• Cancers: Melatonin has been shown to slow or stop the spread of breast cancer cells, prostate cancers, colon cancer, and slow tumor growth.

• Irritable bowel syndrome: Melatonin has been shown to decrease IBS-related symptoms in IBS patients.

• Epilepsy: Broad and detailed research is still needed on the effects of melatonin on epilepsy. Research is split on if melatonin helps or hinders those with epilepsy.

• Sunburns: Sunburn ointments with infusion of melatonin may help heal sun-burns, however, further research is needed.