Written by marylyn | Posted in Health and Fitness |

Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland and since its identification in 1958 it has been shown to play an important role in the regulation of other hormones in the body. These hormones control our circadian rhythm; the 24-hour rhythms our bodies respond to every day. Melatonin is available as a supplement that may be taken to relieve temporarily disrupted sleep patterns. It is available in tablets, capsules and sublingual tablets; melatonin side effects are mild when it is used as directed.

There are several uses for melatonin; jet lag and temporary insomnia are the most common and melatonin can be used safely to treat these conditions for up to three months. There are other uses for melatonin that need to be monitored by a professional health care provider. Melatonin may be used on an on-going basis to treat sleep disorders in older persons and some children with sleep disorders cause by autism, epilepsy, Down syndrome or cerebral palsy.

Melatonin can help prevent and treat some types of cancer; specifically those that are related to hormones. The supplement has been used in the treatment of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men; it has also been found effective in non-small cell lung cancer. Melatonin is also used to increase the effectiveness and lower the side effects of some cancer treatment medications such as interferon and interleukin 2. Melatonin is also used in treating depression related to low melatonin levels; seasonal effective disorder for example. Preliminary studies have shown that melatonin may be useful in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, coronary heart disease, epilepsy and post-menopausal osteoporosis and in preventing sudden infant death syndrome.

There are no specific dosages for melatonin supplements; different people respond differently to melatonin. For treating insomnia, it is recommended that a melatonin dosage of 3 mg be taken 1 hour before bed; however, the dosage should be adjusted up or down depending on the body’s reaction. There are no serious side effects associated with supervised melatonin use; however overuse or misuse can cause an interruption in circadian rhythms, causing drowsiness and lethargy during the day. If you feel drowsy or sleepy during the day, lower your dose of melatonin.

Melatonin should only be used for short-term insomnia therapy and should not be used by people with autoimmune disorders, women who are pregnant or nursing, or as a treatment for depression unless directed by a physician.

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