Art (California) on 01/31/2024
Here is a relevant quote from the review :
While melatonin was initially understood to only regulate circadian rhythms, recent studies indicate that it has a far-reaching effect on various organs and physiological systems, such as immunity, cardiovascular function, antioxidant defense, and lipid hemostasis. As a potent antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory agent, multiple therapeutic applications have been proposed for melatonin.
While this sounds great, not everything is yet known about all of the health benefits that melatonin provides to humans, animals and plant life and that means that melatonin can do even more than this review highlights. I'm still at 132 mg of melatonin per day and I am bolstering this with regular use of melatonin lotion. The natural age related decline of melatonin in people can not be good for our long term health based on the thousands of studies illustrating how melatonin helps maintain our health.
Art
Tom (Livingston, Tx) on 08/08/2023
I will be trying melatonin soon because this author (age 77) has the retinas of a young man:
Art (California) on 06/09/2023
Although melatonin does many things to try and maintain homeostasis in our bodies, the decline of melatonin as we age doesn't allow melatonin to do this job as effectively as it did when we were younger.
So in thinking about this, I have considered that perhaps melatonin is actually a molecule mechanism built into the body to help prevent population overgrowth. An age related decline of melatonin would help to ensure that people do not live too long as living too long would quickly promote overpopulation of the planet and would result in insufficient food to feed the overpopulated planet. This idea brought forth the question of how the body would know that it needs to reduce melatonin production in order to help prevent overpopulation.
One way that I thought of is through calorie intake. When the body regularly receives a healthful caloric intake, that means there is plenty of food available and prospects are good for continued survival and the body responds to this by decreasing melatonin production at the rate we currently see. On the other hand, if caloric intake declines significantly, as in people are starving, melatonin levels decline even further by 20% in just one week or less as discussed in the following study :
Here is a relevant quote from the study, keeping in mind that this study comes closest to the caloric restriction seen in starving, but not actually starving, as mild to moderate caloric restriction has been shown to have life extending effects :
' Short-term voluntary fasting by total rejection of food or with very limited intake of energy (<300 kcal per day) from 2 to 7 days reduces melatonin concentration in the blood by about 20% (26–28). '
A reduction of melatonin by 20% would significantly lessen the pro health and pro survival effects of melatonin and a very likely outcome from such a scenario would be shortened life expectancy due to increased inflammation, oxidative stress, increased cardiovascular disease, increased cancer rates and reduced total antioxidant capacity. This in turn would likely increase mortality at an earlier age, thereby reducing planet population growth until healthful caloric intake could be restored.
In contrast, increased melatonin intake to try and offset the natural age related decline of melatonin will significantly reduce the number one cause of death in the world, cardiovascular disease (CVD) as I previously discussed here :
https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/melatonin-for-cardiovascular-disease.html
If you significantly reduce the number one cause of death in the world, CVD, it seems a reasonable expectation that people are likely to live longer. When you add the organ protective effects and bone protective effects of melatonin to that equation, increased life expectancy also seems a reasonable conclusion. Adding further to this, when you also take into consideration the multiple anticancer mechanisms of melatonin as discussed in the following link, it seems longer life expectancy due to melatonin is a reasonable idea :
Here is a relevant study quote regarding some of the ways that melatonin works against cancer :
' Melatonin inhibits proliferation of cancer cells through triggering cell cycle arrest and causes cell death by induction of apoptosis. Melatonin suppresses metastasis angiogenesis, and proliferation of cancer cells through affecting various signaling pathways in tumor cells. Melatonin also regulates autophagy pathway in cancer cell by affecting oxidative stress condition in tumor cells. These findings suggest that melatonin may increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to anti-cancer agents and may be a potential treatment for cancers either alone or in combination with other anti-cancer drugs. '
Studies that actually test if long term use of melatonin can extend life expectancy are lacking due to the length of such a study of many years, but given the above effects of melatonin, it seems illogical to think that melatonin would not extend overall life expectancy. So far melatonin has only been used in animal and insect studies in terms of life extension. The following study discusses melatonin and how it showed life extending effects in a small mammal :
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090622064807.htm
This is a relevant quote from this 2009 study :
' Under normal conditions, this animal shows the first signs of aging after reaching 12 months, mainly through the loss of circadian rhythm in its activities. By continuously administering melatonin, starting a little before 12 months, the appearance of these first signs was delayed by at least 3 months, which is a considerable period in relation to the lifespan of this shrew*. '
The following study discusses some of the known mechanisms of melatonin by which it can potentially extend life expectancy :
Here is a relevant study quote describing some of the mechanisms by which melatonin may offer life extension :
' MT plays an anti-aging role by upregulating the expression of silent information regulator 1/Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). SIRT1 is a histone deacetylase, and its physiological function is to remove acetyl groups, bind DNA strands together, and silence a target gene. In 2008, a study reported that MT increases the level of SIRT1 in a mouse model of accelerated aging (SAMP8 mice), demonstrating a positive correlation between MT and SIRT1 for the first time.9 This positive correlation was supported by two other studies.10, 11 MT enhances the deacetylation of SIRT1 substrates by upregulating SIRT1 expression and thus inhibits premature senescence '
Given all of the above information, it would appear that if you get extra melatonin through supplementation or natural means it can be healthful and possibly life extending, but if you continuously have low and or declining levels of melatonin, it may shorten your time to death. Overall, melatonin should make your stay here on earth a more healthful one!
Art
mmsg (somewhere, europe ) on 05/18/2023
He sleeps well now so the doctor said he should stop for now, so that the body doesn't start relying ONLY on the pills to fall asleep.
The first night off of it, he was not able to fall asleep all night. But now he does.
1. Is Melatonin for sleep addictive?
2. Being that he is not in favor of alternative medicine, I was hoping the little he was taking would help with other ailments. But the dosage was so low, it probably didn't do much for other things.
What are your thoughts on this?
Art (California) on 07/06/2022
Here is a link to the study :
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35790450/
Here is a relevant quote from the abstract :
>>> ' Despite the potential benefits of antioxidants and melatonin, we did not find improvements in sleep time or quality, cellular health or BP in participants consuming MTC for 30 days, though BM decreased in capsule groups. ' <<<
This study implies that if you plan to get your melatonin and its known health benefits from cherries, that will not likely happen. Even if you are just looking for better sleep, the result is still likely to be no benefit.
Art
peter (chicago) on 01/24/2022
My wife is on anti rejection drug for kidney transplant and blood pressure medication.
She has trouble sleeping and told me Melatonin can not taken. Please let me know is that the case.
Melatonin and Daytime Use Mama to Many (TN) on 09/29/2021
When we had covid back in January we all used high dose Melatonin (thanks to Art who kept us informed about the protocol! ) I used it on everyone in the house - ages 9 to 83, based on weight, as Dr. Neel recommends. We took it 4 times a day.
My 83 year old mother in law with dementia did not know what the pills I gave her were, I just added them with her other meds and supplements. She was not symptomatic of covid, but we were using it to try and prevent covid since others in the home had it. (I think it worked, or at least helped! She never got sick, but did lose her sense of smell.) Anyway, her sleep/wake patterns were no different than when she wasn't taking round the clock melatonin. (She always takes it at night.)
It was hard to tell how it affected those of us who were actually sick. Sick people sleep more.
I take 15-20 mg of melatonin every night to help me with sleep (and it definitely improves my quality of sleep! )
Last summer, an hour after taking my melatonin dose, my daughter-in-law went into labor. I had an hour of sleep but woke up easily and drove an hour and 20 minutes to the birth center where she had the baby. I had no trouble driving and no trouble staying awake all night.
I had the opportunity to repeat the experiment last week. I had taken my 20 mg of melatonin and fallen asleep when my daughter went into labor. I woke up and stayed up the rest of the night with her and was able to see another grandchild born. (What a privilege! )
I cannot know how it affects others. But I can say that melatonin does not make it impossible for at least some people to stay awake after taking a significant dose. Certainly it would be wise to know how such a dose would affect you before driving a long way or using heavy equipment.
~Mama to Many~
Melatonin And Some Interesting Coincidences Art (California) on 09/13/2021
In the above chart, you can see that by age 50, melatonin levels have declined to the level of a newborn which is quite low when compared to the peak seen in childhood. In the following link, there is a chart that you have to scroll down to page 10 to see and it shows how the incidence of Parkinson's Disease (PD) increases with age. Interestingly, the incidence of PD starts to increase noticeably from age 50.
Seems like an interesting coincidence.
Look at the following chart and notice how Deaths from Covid-19 start to notably increase from age 50 and up.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1191568/reported-deaths-from-covid-by-age-us/
Seems like an interesting coincidence.
Men age 45 or older and women age 55 or older are more likely to have a heart attack than are younger men and women.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20373106
Seems like an interesting coincidence.
Middle age is when diabetes diagnoses really start to spike. An estimated 14% of Americans ages 45 to 64, or 11 million people, are diagnosed with type 2. That’s almost five times the rate for those 18 to 44.
https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-link-age
Seems like an interesting coincidence.
Risk increases significantly after age 50, and half of all cancers occur at age 66 and above. According to the National Cancer Institute, one quarter of new cancer diagnoses are in people aged 65 to 74. Refer to the attached chart to see where melatonin levels are at this age range.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4544764/
Seems like an interesting coincidence.
Osteoporosis also starts to become a bigger issue around age 50 when bone stability starts to head south.
Seems like an interesting coincidence.
From this link, you can see that stroke starts to noticeably increase from age 50.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3006180/
Seems like an interesting coincidence.
Another interesting coincidence is that melatonin has been shown in studies to help all of these diseases.
Art
Deb (Treasure Island, FL) on 07/24/2021
Kenny H (TN) on 03/17/2021
Now I'm fighting diabetes and liver damage and thyroid malfunction which came on all of a sudden also and while I am overcoming that slowly but surely by alternate day fasting, cutting ALL wheat products out of my diet, and the old timey cottage cheese and oil (Flax, black seed & Hemp oil) medicine cancer cure remedy!
But I'm not my old self by any stretch as before I started taking melatonin every night and so am very leery about ever taking melatonin again! Besides it always makes you feel so tired and groggy and who the hell needs that when your 65 yrs old? Certainly not me! So the jury is still out on that one! The side effect of melatonin is it makes you drowsy and tired, and I need just the opposite of that!
Katie (London) on 02/08/2021
Can anyone advise me how to buy sufficient quantities from a reputable source?
HisJewel (New York) on 01/31/2021
Melatonin was a big help in starting my fight to get well even with side effects.
I decided to reorder some more Melatonin, because I was glad that I had it on hand to meet a possible emergency during my coughing fits. As I mentioned I took about 100mgs of Melatonin for each of 3 days. I took 4 to 5 pills a few times a day and once at night. They were 5mgs each. No, my brand did not make me sleep or sleepy; however, I found that when I was ready to sleep they let me sleep at least an hour or two at night. The side effect I had was loose stools.
Some years ago, I had ordered some Melatonin from eBay. I am not sure why I bought them, I do remember reading a book back then that said it was good for stopping any further memory loss in its track. Anyway, this Melatonin product was from overseas, it was a powder, and a very high mgs per tiny scoop. I do not remember the company. I remember going to sleep that night and not waking up until morning. In the garbage it went. As I used to do all night prayer often and too much sleep would interfere with my work. The interesting thing is I do not remember having any side effect, only what it said it would do give me sleep.
The Melatonin that I had on hand when I was sick this month, I bought last year because Earth Clinic, Art and others posted Melatonin benefits for COVID 19.When I decided to buy more, I noticed that I needed to find out what "Other ingredients" are in each brand and kind of Melatonin. The company that I got mine from had at least 3 different kind of Melatonin mixtures. I did not want any artificial sweeter in mine so I was reading the labels. Then it dawn on me that perhaps one of the" Other ingredients" in the brand that I already had was what caused the side effect that I encountered. So please read the label.
HisJewel
Pam (Ponte Vedra, FL) on 01/21/2021
Gertjr (Madison) on 09/16/2020
Then, last night, I took a 5 mg regular tablet and, during the night, woke up dizzy. Even at the gym this morning, doing barbell bench presses, I was dizzy upon sitting up. So, is this the melatonin or something else? I stay hydrated and my blood pressure was good (I took it several times), so it's not that.
Possibly low blood sugar? I had not eaten for some time when it happened. Any thoughts? I swim, so wonder if it's not my ears? I do not have vertigo during my normal day, only upon rising from flat to sitting (of course I don't stand until it passes). I don't want to visit a dr until I've eliminated other causes. Thanks. I really need relief of the insomnia! I've taking benadryl and want to stop.
Gertjr (Madison) on 07/06/2020
I have a bit of migraine pain today, so hopefully that's not the melatonin but the stress. I'm probably a bit dehydrated, too, so need to take better care of myself.
Melatonin for Dreaming Derek (Ontario, CA) on 03/28/2015
Connie (Slc, Ut) on 07/18/2011
I'm from a city down the coast from you, Charleston. I really miss the ocean. It was easier to get enough sea salt there.
It appears that in your situation, there are paradoxes to negotiate. I've read that some people do have increased insomnia, anxiety, and other side effects from melatonin supplementation. It's been suggested that they may try a dosage as low as. 1-.3 mgs. I also have low cortisol, and insomnia from early childhood. Although I have tried so many substances for this; herbs, amino acids, exercise, and even medications; my best results have been from combining a low dose b-complex with a sublingual b12. There can be paradoxical reactions to them also, as some can relax and or stimulate the system. I suggest trying the b-complex made from foods. (unfortunately it's expensive) It may be only needed in smaller amounts. Try 1/2 tablet in the morning. ( I have it with an empty stomach, but it may be easier with food).
Also, try methylcobalamin sublinguals, (active-b12); because it enables the other b's to operate. A 1000 mcg. Tablet can be divided with a pill cutter into 4 wedges. It may be that only 250 mcgs. Is needed daily for sensitve individuals. I have also found that folate has been very helpful with depression, But it must be measured carefully according individual needs. I recommend methylfolate. It comes in 800 mcg. Tablets that can also be subdivided.
While there is the RDA of folate in supplements, some people with atypical depression have responded very well to extra folate. It can have mild stimulant properties for some people, so I suggest trying small amounts in the morning. (It is also good for sensitive gums and canker sores when dissolved in the mouth). I have found these supplements to also lower many types of inflammation that can deplete cortisol.
Jeremiah (San Diego, California) on 07/07/2009
Cathy (Pataskala, Ohio) on 07/26/2009
Hannah (Vancouver, BC ) on 03/01/2004
