Melatonin against insomnia
The main therapeutic indication of melatonin is related to the treatment of sleep disorders in general and insomnia in particular. Acting as a powerful sedative and hypnotic, the integration of this very important hormone is particularly suitable for inducing sleep in subjects who suffer from serious difficulties. in falling asleep.
A step back to understand ...
The release of melatonin is not constant throughout the day; its production is significantly inhibited in the presence of light and promoted in the dark thanks to the retinal photoceptors that pick up light stimuli from the outside. The above results in the variation of plasma levels (blood concentration) of melatonin during the day, which they are lowest in the morning and highest in the evening.
Furthermore, a melatonin supplementation is particularly suitable for people who have a hard time getting to sleep but, once they fall asleep, end their rest by waking up in the morning.
Did you know that ...
Often complaining about various ailments of falling asleep, the elderly are heavy consumers of melatonin supplements. It is scientifically proven that the effectiveness of this hormone decreases as we age due to the progressive calcification of the epiphysis.
Jet-leg
Due to its extraordinary ability to regulate the sleep-wake rhythm, melatonin is also indicated to promote falling asleep in shift workers and in subjects who, for professional reasons, are forced to travel from one part of the world to another (hostesses, pilots d "airplane, etc.). In addition to sleep disturbances, the so-called time zone syndrome (or jet-leg) is also characterized by inappetence, irritability and evident digestive difficulties.
Other indications hypothesized
The uses of melatonin are not limited to the treatment of insomnia.
This "regulatory" hormone is indicated in numerous other areas:
- Prevention of PHOTO-AGING (potential antioxidant role of melatonin)
- Adjuvant (hypothetical) in anticancer treatments and ionizing radiation derived from chemotherapy (part of Bella's multitherapy). Potential anticancer activities are in fact ascribed to melatonin, without however finding an effective scientific confirmation. Anyway, from what is reported in the magazine Mutation Research, it appears that melatonin can be indicated as a protective agent from ionizing radiation used to treat different types of malignant neoplasms.
- Adjuvant in the treatment of CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
- Hypothetical (not fully demonstrated) adjuvant in the treatment of SEXUAL ALTERATIONS
- Hypothetical indication to modulate the side effects of SUBSTANCES OF ABUSE such as cocaine
- Possible indication in the improvement of the symptoms of LATE DYSKINESIA (movement disorder characterized by the alternation of hyperkinetic and hypokinetic movements)
- Adjuvant in the treatment of ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE and memory loss: from some experiments conducted on laboratory guinea pigs (mice) it is deduced that the melatonin receptors seem to regulate the mechanisms of learning and memory
- Additional treatment against PLATELETOPENIA: in this case, melatonin is indicated for chemo-induced thrombocytopenia
- Migraine prophylaxis: from the reading of some clinical studies reported in the journal Current Pain And Headache Reports it is clear that a supplementation of melatonin could be indicated in the prophylaxis of headache and cluster migraine
- According to what emerges from the prestigious magazine International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatr, it seems that melatonin can also find an indication in the treatment of BREAST DELIRIUM. In fact, low doses of melatonin taken for long periods seem to significantly reduce the symptoms of the disease.
- Preventive treatment against BILE CALCULATIONS. In the gallbladder, melatonin appears to have several positive effects: it converts cholesterol into bile, prevents oxidative stress and encourages the motility of gallstones.
- Adjuvant treatment against "OBESITY" €: some studies performed on laboratory animals (reported in the journal Endocrinology) show that long-term supplementation of melatonin can somehow reduce abdominal fat and body weight, particularly in mice that are no longer very young. The hope is to find the right solution to obtain the same anti-obesity effect in man through a specific integration of melatonin for a few months.
- Some studies conducted on adult men and women show that melatonin can somehow produce noticeable improvements in the treatment of ACUFENE (ringing in the ears).
- By promoting sleep and relaxation, melatonin is also indicated in the SYNDROME OF THE LEGS WITHOUT REST. Sleep Journal A study was conducted on some subjects affected by this disorder: in 7 out of 9 volunteers, the periodic administration of melatonin reported positive results in improving symptoms.
- Preventive treatment of TYPE II Diabetes Mellitus: some recent clinical evidence has shown an important role of melatonin (in particular, of its MT1 receptor) in the regulation of glucose metabolism. It seems, in fact, that receptor activation can minimize the risk of diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity.
Dosage indications
The table shows the general indications on the dosage of melatonin as an adjuvant in the treatment of different disorders.
- NB: All the indications on the dosage expressed below are purely indicative and subject to the approval of the doctor. The "integration of melatonin must" be considered a complement to medical therapy to facilitate the overcoming of the disorder; melatonin cannot and must not substitute drugs possibly prescribed by the specialist for the treatment of a given disease.
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