What is melatonin?
Melatonin is also known as MEL.Melatonin is a natural produced by the pineal gland in the brain and then released into the bloodstream. Darkness prompts the pineal gland to start producing melatonin while light causes that production to stop.As a result, melatonin helps regulate circadian rhythm and synchronize our sleep-wake cycle with night and day. Your melatonin level usually starts to rise after the sun sets and stays high during the night. It drops in the early morning, which helps you wake up. That quality-rising at night, disappearing during the day -- gives melatonin its nickname: the Dracula of hormones. |  |
 | What's the main forms of melatonin supplements? Melatonin created within the body is known as endogenous melatonin, but the hormone can also be produced externally. Your body has its own internal clock that controls your natural cycle of sleeping and waking hours. In part, your body clock controls how much melatonin your body makes.Exogenous melatonin is normally made synthetically in a laboratory and, as a dietary supplement, is most often sold as a pill, capsule, chewable, or liquid. |
What is main function of melatonin? Normally, melatonin levels begin to rise in the mid- to late evening, remain high for most of the night, and then drop in the early morning hours. Light affects how much melatonin your body produces. During the shorter days of the winter months, your body may produce melatonin either earlier or later in the day than usual. This change can lead to symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or winter depression.Natural melatonin levels slowly drop with age. Some |  |
older adults make very small amounts of it or none at all. Can be used to treat jet lag or sleep problems (insomnia). Melatonin is a potent antioxidant that defends against free radicals and helps to support glutathione activity in the neural tissue.
How to Take Melatonin?
When you take it may be even more important than how much you take. The best timing of your dose depends on the sleep issue you’re trying to solve.It is shown that melatonin supplements may be useful in certain situations for both adults and children.
Research has found that taking melatonin in low doses is the most effective way to promote sleep if you are experiencing restlessness or insomnia. Recommended doses of melatonin are from 0.5 mg up to 6 mg,.The AAP advises against dosages above 3-6 mg for children and states that many young people respond to small doses of .5 to 1 mg. which are adequate to promote sleep or treat jet lag. When melatonin is used at higher doses, it tends to increase daytime sleepiness.
