Osteoporosis and Melatonin: The Melatonin Series Continues
In this ongoing Melatonin Series on Earth Clinic, this next discussion is about osteoporosis.
Many supplements are purported to help osteoporosis, but one not currently listed on EC is melatonin. There are many studies regarding melatonin as it relates to osteoporosis so let's get started.
I'm not saying that melatonin is a replacement for these other supplements when it comes to osteoporosis, but it should definitely be a part of the armamentarium in the fight against this disease and is just one more important reason to consider melatonin as an overall health promoter against many diseases and health conditions.
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. As a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or, in serious cases, from sneezing or minor bumps. (1)
Women are at higher risk than men, and here are some of the risk factors. Often, a fracture or a broken bone is the first sign of osteoporosis before any of the following risk factors are present:
* Estrogen deficiency from early menopause (before age 45, either natural or surgical) or no period for a long time (six months to a year)
* Personal history of fracture (broken bone) as an adult
* Family history of osteoporosis or bone fracture
* Small thin frame and/or low body weight
* Low intake of calcium (avoidance of dairy products)
* Low levels of vitamin D
* Immobilization or lack of exercise
* Cigarette smoking
* Excessive alcohol intake
* High caffeine intake
* Other medical problems that contribute to bone loss, including thyroid and parathyroid conditions, digestive issues, eating disorders, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, cancer, and paralysis
* Use of certain medications that weaken bones, such as steroids, overuse of thyroid hormone, blood thinners, anticonvulsants, and diuretics. While osteoporosis can occur in anyone, it is more common in Caucasian and Asian women.
Doctors have multiple drugs at their disposal to treat osteoporosis. Drugs such as the following Bisphosphonates:
There is also:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351974
There are others, but these would be considered to be the leading group. The Bisphosphonates have some significant side effect issues as mentioned here:
As the title suggests, melatonin has shown benefit in fighting osteoporosis and is worth considering as part of a plan to combat osteoporosis. I won't rehash all of the benefits of melatonin that I have already mentioned in this Melatonin Series as they are many, but rather concentrate on showing studies that illustrate how melatonin can help people with osteoporosis.
In the following abstract, melatonin is shown to operate like most of the available prescription meds by inhibiting bone loss, but melatonin goes a step further and helps in new bone formation.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30597617/
In the following mouse model of osteoporosis generated by giving the mice retinoic acid, melatonin was shown to prevent bone destruction while promoting bone formation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6714316/
In this following abstract, the title pretty much says it all, "Melatonin Suppresses Estrogen Deficiency-Induced Osteoporosis and Promotes Osteoblastogenesis by Inactivating the NLRP3 Inflammasome". This also happens to be one way that melatonin fights Covid-19.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29804160/
In the following abstract, melatonin's ability to restore impaired osteogenic potential caused by osteoporosis is discussed.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31669348/
Since diabetes is considered a potential risk factor for osteoporosis, the following study discusses how melatonin may stave off osteoporosis. The following study discusses how melatonin activates the Nrf2/HO1 pathway to help fight Diabetic osteoporosis. It also goes on to show that melatonin significantly reduces ferroptosis caused by high glucose levels:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7732386/
The following study discusses how melatonin may be useful for preventing bone loss during space flight.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6771646/
The following study comes to this conclusion regarding Melatonin and Osteoporosis:
>>> ' The osteoblast-inducing, bone-enhancing effects of melatonin and improvement in the quality of life suggest that melatonin is a safe and effective bone loss therapy. '<<<
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6711668/
It is worth reminding here that melatonin production declines with age, as noted on the following graph. This is very important when you consider all of the health conditions that studies show that melatonin is useful for. This adds credence to the whole idea of supplementing with melatonin as a preventative or treatment as we age.
This next abstract discusses how melatonin can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis in people with Multiple Sclerosis.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29193274/
The following RCT is very interesting. It shows how melatonin works well with other natural supplements that are often used for Osteoporosis and Osteopenia, such as vitamin D, vitamin K-2, and strontium. Here is a quote from the study:
>>> 'These findings provide both clinical and mechanistic support for the use of MSDK for the prevention or treatment of osteopenia, osteoporosis, or other bone-related diseases. ' <<<
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5310667/
The following rat study is interesting because it demonstrates how melatonin has synergy with Calcium Carbonate to reduce and possibly reverse osteoporosis in these rats. Here is a quote from the study:
>>> 'Melatonin and calcium carbonate can significantly improve antioxidative ability in rats with osteoporosis, increase bone density, elevate serum calcium level and reduce bone mineral loss, thus preventing and treating osteoporosis, and the combination displays more remarkable effects.' <<<
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6030893/
This next abstract is important because it points out that melatonin can also have oral health benefits, as pointed out in a previous post on oral health, all why working against Osteoporosis and Osteopenia.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24372640/
I could go on for pages highlighting the many Melatonin studies showing benefits for Osteoporosis and Osteopenia, but the above should be more than enough to show how helpful melatonin is for the purpose.
The above studies go into substantial detail explaining how beneficial melatonin is for the purpose and how it is synergistic with other known supplements that are often used to fight osteoporosis. When you combine this information with the previous articles in this Melatonin Series, you might start to get an inkling of why I choose to take high dose melatonin (HDM) every day at 106 mg+ per night so that I can try and avail myself of all of the health benefits that melatonin appears to offer.
As always, I can not recommend melatonin or dosing because I am not a doctor, but I can highlight these relevant studies so that others can clearly see the benefit of HDM. You should consult your doctor or healthcare professional before testing or taking melatonin for any reason to be safe.
Art
Melatonin is an inexpensive supplement and easy to find at pharmacies, grocery stores, and local health food stores.
Here are a few links to Amazon:
NOW Supplements, Melatonin, 10 mg, 100 Veg Capsules
Natrol Fast Dissolve - 10 mg - 100 Count - $12.99
Puritan's Pride Melatonin 10 mg 120 Capsules (3-Pack)- $23.00
Got a question for Art or feedback about melatonin for Osteoporosis? Please submit it here!
