Melatonin for COVID-19
Health Benefits

25 Scientifically Proven Ways Melatonin Can Fight COVID-19

| Modified on Oct 25, 2022

Covid-19 is turning out to be more complicated than initially thought. Not only can it affect almost every major organ in the body, it is causing heart attacks and strokes in young adults who were asymptomatic.

The following points attempt to show how Melatonin can work against Covid-19 based on recent studies and what is currently known about this disease.

Melatonin's Role in CoVid-19 and other Viruses

1. Melatonin has a potent anti-inflammatory action, especially in the lungs. Melatonin has shown the ability to break the ROS/inflammation vicious cycle.

2. Melatonin is a potent scavenger of many radicals, including reactive oxygen species(ROS), reactive nitrogen species(RNS), hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxynitrite.

3. Melatonin is a protector of major organs, including the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, skin, and brain that are now known to be injured or damaged by Covid-19. Melatonin or its metabolites can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

4. Melatonin upregulates gene expression of the body's potent antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). These can all go a long way in improving the damage induced by Covid-19.

5. Melatonin protects the mitochondria function through its potent antioxidant activities and increases the efficacy of mitochondrial electron transport chain and reduces electron leakage. Through its potent antioxidative actions, it prevents tissue damage and blocks transcriptional factors of proinflammatory cytokines. These are all crucial points relating to Covid-19 and the damage it is known to cause.

6. Melatonin reduces free radical damage to DNA. Melatonin receptors are found throughout the body, suggesting that the body has many uses for it.

7. Melatonin is an inhibitor of NADPH Oxidase, which becomes significantly elevated in Covid-19 patients and can do very significant damage to the epithelium via elevated superoxide level if left unchecked as outlined in the MedCram video series.

8. Melatonin and its metabolites are neuroprotectant and can cross the BBB, which is vital since Covid-19 is known to enter the brain and do damage.

9. Melatonin is an endothelial protectant, which is important because Covid-19 is now known to damage the endothelium, which is a significant part of a cascade of damage that Covid-19 leaves in its wake.

10. Melatonin exerts a direct antioxidant effect on tissues/organs and antiapoptotic effects on cells. Melatonin inhibits neutrophil activation and reduces the damage they cause to endothelial cells, which is thought to occur in Covid-19 patients.

11. Melatonin can improve sleep, which can be crucial in keeping the immune system in good operating order.

12. Melatonin increases very significantly from birth to around age 4 to 7 years (a specific age group that seems very resistant to Covid-19) and then declines slightly until puberty, at which point its production and secretion by the pineal gland reduces sharply by age 60/65.

From that point on, melatonin levels are negligible. This 65+ age group with the lowest melatonin levels is also the group that seems to be most susceptible to the adverse health effects of Covid-19.

Obviously, with age, in general, comes multiple health issues that can account for part of the problem. Still, you can see where a lack of melatonin could be an additional factor that can be resolved through appropriate supplementation of melatonin. Add in the fact that many pre-existing conditions have shown to lower native melatonin levels in this already higher risk group, and melatonin starts to take on even more significance for this high-risk group.

Melatonin Graph

13. Melatonin in bats is approximately four times that found in humans at its highest levels for each. Bats are believed to be carriers of SARS CoV-2, yet bats seem unaffected by the virus. Is melatonin a contributing factor for this feature of bats? Melatonin may be causing the more controlled innate immune response seen in bats, but this is as yet not proven that melatonin is the reason for this process in bats.

14. Melatonin in women is generally at significantly higher levels than men. In the study that Dr. Seheult refers to in one of his videos, he mentions that out of the 100% of patients admitted to the hospital for Covid-19, 60% were men, and 40% were women. Could the significant difference in melatonin levels be a contributing factor to this phenomenon? Another possible contributing factor is that women are thought to have more ACE-2 than men. The virus can exhaust or destroy ACE-2 once it binds or docks to it to manufacture more viruses. Since melatonin has shown that it can increase ACE-2, is the higher melatonin in women, the reason that they are thought to have more ACE-2?

15. Melatonin is released in the blood and can penetrate all body tissues, which suggests it can probably get to every place that the virus does within the body. Melatonin and catalase reduce the cytotoxicity of Neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner, and this is important because this is a potential reason for the Endothelial damage that is likely occurring in Covid-19 patients. Melatonin upregulates gene expression of catalase.

16. Melatonin can down-regulate the innate immunity overreaction response to SARS CoV-2, limiting the potential for the cytokine storm that has been seen in Covid-19 patients and has resulted in death. While doing this, it is promoting the adaptive immune response, which can aid in the production of antibodies to SARS CoV-2.

17. Melatonin at higher dosing, such as used by Dr. Neel, can downregulate NLRP3 inflammasome activation to help protect the lungs. The anti-inflammatory effect of melatonin can be enhanced by higher-dose vitamin C, just as Dr. Neel is using in his Covid-19 patients. Quercetin is also likely to have synergy with melatonin in terms of being anti-inflammatory. On the other hand, high dose vitamin D (4,300 IU+/day) reduces melatonin production. Bats have little vitamin D. Vitamin C is useful and likely synergistic with melatonin, but pales in comparison to the potential broad-ranging utility of melatonin in Covid-19 patients.

18. Melatonin acts to ameliorate atherosclerosis through inflammation reduction, radical scavenging, and mitophagy activation. Covid-19 may rapidly add to existing atherosclerosis and contribute to these vascular complications seen in patients with Covid-19. Melatonin reduces vascular permeability.

19. Melatonin has been shown to increase ACE2, and this is important because the virus pretty much exhausts or destroys ACE2 as its primary means of virus replication and this is an early point in the infection process that ultimately results in further damage to the cardiovascular system and other parts of the body.

20. Melatonin, through its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities, ameliorates the very significant levels of ROS that damage the lungs and contribute to pneumonia. If you can eliminate pneumonia and the cytokine storm, then a ventilator will never be needed. Those three things have shown themselves to be three main things associated with death in Covid-19.

21. Melatonin, through its anticoagulation effects, can reduce thrombosis. Covid-19 is showing the ability to induce thrombosis that can lead to stroke and heart attack in patients with Covid-19. Melatonin's potent antioxidant actions reduce oxidative stress to reduce the potential for thrombosis. Melatonin also reduces edema that can be caused by blood clotting.

22. Melatonin lowers C-Reactive Protein (CRP), which is a marker for inflammation, which is elevated in the presence of inflammation and at elevated levels in Covid-19 patients. CRP is a known target in many diseases in which CRP is significantly elevated, including Covid-19. Higher levels of CRP are associated with non-survivors in Wuhan, China.

23. Melatonin lowers Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. IL-6 is a cytokine and another inflammatory mediator that is at significantly elevated levels in Covid-19 patients and is known to be a significant contributing factor to the "cytokine storm." Melatonin also inhibits the chemokine IL-8, an upstream inflammatory mediator that draws other inflammatory cytokines and other inflammatory mediators into the fray.

24. Melatonin is useful before, during, and after a stroke. This is important because of the increased reporting of strokes and heart attacks caused by Covid-19 disease. Melatonin is heart protective. Melatonin lowers homocysteine and increases nitric oxide. It is good to keep in mind that multiple disease states can diminish native melatonin levels. If you combine that with the fact that the elderly are already at the very low end of the human melatonin scale, the importance of melatonin starts to become more evident as people with certain pre-existing health conditions are more likely to succumb to the disease. Melatonin may help to level the playing field and improve patient outcome and mortality.

25. Melatonin is also available in cream and suppository forms, which may make it an option for patients already on a ventilator. If you are a senior citizen on a ventilator and aware of the survival rate for same, would you want melatonin cream applied or a melatonin suppository or both? Covid-19 increases the cytokine IL-1b, which is known to suppress melatonin production. If this is the case, the little melatonin that senior citizen patients have is likely to be depleted even further.

Based on Dr. Neels clinical experience with his Covid-19 patients and their apparent excellent response to his use of high dose melatonin(HDM) in them, all of the above may start to give an idea of what melatonin is doing in those patients to achieve the very beneficial responses Dr. Neel is reporting!

Potential Side Effects of Melatonin

The above is an incomplete list of potential health benefits of melatonin as tbey might apply to Covid-19 infection in patients. After going through this list, you may feel that melatonin checks many of the boxes as a molecule to be used against Covid-19, but like anything else, melatonin can have its downsides.

Here is a list of known melatonin side effects :

  • drowsiness
  • alterations in sleep patterns
  • altered mental status
  • disorientation
  • tachycardia
  • flushing
  • pruritus (itchy skin)
  • abdominal cramps
  • headaches
  • trouble sleeping
  • bad dreams
  • hypothermia

So this adds further evidence to the idea that your doctor needs to be involved in your decision to use melatonin for Covid-19.

Although this side effect list is significant, the drugs currently being tested for Covid-19 are very likely to have more and more severe side effects.

Side Effects of Drugs Currently Being Tested for COVID-19

Here is a link describing the side effects of Remdesivir, one of the drugs currently being tested that is showing modest result against Covid-19 while still allowing a certain percentage of deaths (8 % in the five-day treatment group and 11% in the ten-day treatment group).

https://heavy.com/news/2020/04/what-are-side-effects-of-remdesivir/

Here is a list of known side effects of Hydroxychloroquine, another popular drug being tested for Covid-19.
 

Where to Buy Melatonin

You can find melatonin at most pharmacies, health food stores, grocery stores, and of course, online.

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

Resources and References

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18289163

The effects of melatonin supplementation on inflammatory markers among patients with metabolic syndrome or related disorders: a systematic review a... - PubMed - NCBI

 
 
 
 

Related Pages:

Coronavirus Remedies
Melatonin Protocol for Coronavirus
Melatonin Health Benefits

Related Links:

Bill Thompson\'s Protocol for Coronavirus Prevention + Recovery
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Alternative Treatment and Prevention
Melatonin Cures
Nasal Lugol's Iodine Rinse for Protection Against COVID-19




High Dose Melatonin Reviews

Posted by Karen (Waukesha, WI) on 10/25/2022

I am curious after reading so many posts on Melatonin for Covid. What brands are best? What about gummies? I see them in 3,5,10mg. How many would I need to take in a day? (135-140lbs) What about taking them long term? I am not on any RX other than taking Quercetin, NAC, D, and CoQ10. I had Covid in October 2021 for 6 weeks with pneumonia the last 3 weeks. Not vaxxed. Tested positive for natural immunity a few months ago. Not taking Zinc or C very often.

Replied by Art
(California)
10/25/2022
2119 posts

Karen,

Dr. Neel uses 1 mg per kilogram of body weight in his Covid-19 patients to good effect. First convert your weight of 140 lbs to kilograms.

Conversion

As you can see by the conversion chart, 140 lbs = 63.5029 kilograms or if you want to round up 65 kilograms. If you want to round down, 60 kilograms. One mg of melatonin for every kilogram of bodyweight or 60 to 65 mg total per day in divided doses.

Dr. Neel suggests dividing into equal doses every 6 hours.

I don't have any favorite brand, I just use 5 and or 10 mg units of melatonin.

Art


High Dose Melatonin Reviews
Posted by Mary (New Jersey) on 09/03/2021

Art or anyone --- please tell me if you think that my son's pain in his upper right side toward his back, about even with his chest/breast could be a side effect of high dose melatonin? He had covid & was cleared to go back to work yesterday & was very eager to return, but last night this pain started & it's scaring him. He'll be going to urgent care soon.

He has not pulled any muscles. He has been taking 70-90 mg of melatonin spaced out during the day. Also vit C a few times a day. Then these once a day, sometimes twice D, zinc, B complex, & omega.

Do you see any reason that any of this would be causing such pain? It even hurts him to breathe. I don't believe it's covid breathing issues because those resolved days ago & never gave him pain. Thank you so much.

~Mary

Replied by Charity
(faithville, Us)
09/03/2021

My last ER visit 2014, I had an elephant on my chest and it was a lack of digestion putting pressure on my lungs. My son had 1/3 of his lung removed in dec 2019 from a bout of pneumonia scar tissue 6 years prior that left him with constant fluid build up and coughing it back up. He is better now. I use astragalus every morning along with my ox bile. Liver pain is on right side. Although if it is gallstone take some vinegar or chanca piedra, my sis just lost her gallbladder due to stone blockage. Dehydration from stress makes stones build.

See this post by Ted

Replied by Ted
Bangkok, Thailand
07/16/2012
383 posts

Most of the unexplained pain in the chest comes from a yet unidentified bacteria. That's why the medical professions are baffled. But basically I will get the immune system up first with lysine, zinc and selenium. Lysine 1000 mg x 3, hourly and zinc gluconate (25 to 50 mg for a month only) and selenium yeast (200 mcg x 3). To help the circulation and the fatty liver (most common I have seen), is lemon and baking soda remedy three times a day, and fatty liver, granulated lecithin one tablespoon twice a day. The fat emulsifiers will get rid of the fatty liver but not your waist size, but most of that is hidden in the liver. Most conditions of the lungs are due to (most frequently) the fungus. To help detoxification, a capsule of N acetyl cysteine 500 mg every time you have a cough, is my remedy for a cough, of course there is peppermint oil, but is not generally good in preventing in the long term but are used for convenience. Circulatory issues remains the main issue and so you must drink more water, especially during meals and try to eat less fats and carbohydrates as the major cause. It really helps the intestines if wheat products are avoided, as it prevents detoxification issues due to gluten (glue in latin) that is why is so much of a problem, lime and baking soda, and at least some vinegar and baking soda, will help the liver function better. Lime and baking soda helps the circulation and vinegar helps acetylation of the liver.

Ted

Replied by Mary
(New Jersey)
09/15/2021

Update: I have no other thing to blame my son's pain on other than covid, not melatonin ---it was blood clots that went into his lungs.