Posted on 11/05/2009 9:35:59 AM PST by decimon
Scientists of the University of Granada state that the exogenous administration of melatonin corrects the sleep/wakefulness pace when human biological clock gets altered. At present, this substance is being widely used by the pharmaceutical industry to design synthetic medicines, a very interesting therapeutic tool for the treatment of sleep alterations.
UGR News Melatonin, a natural hormone segregated by the own human body, is an excellent sleep regulator expected to replace somniferous, which are much more aggressive, to correct the sleep/wakefulness pace when human biological clock becomes altered. Those are the conclusions of a research work carried out by Darío Acuña-Castroviejo and Germaine Escames, professors of the Institute of Biotechnology (Biomedical Research Centre of the University of Granada), who have been carrying out a complete analysis of the properties of this natural hormone segregated by the pineal gland for years.
Melatonin (frequently called the ‘hormone of darkness’, because the organism produces it at night) is currently being used by the pharmaceutical industry to design derivative synthetic medicines, a very interesting therapeutic tool for the treatment of sleep alterations. Not in vain, the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) authorized in 2007 the use of melatonin for this type of therapies, after years of debate about the convenience of this measure.
Taking it at specific hours The researchers of the University of Granada have stated that melatonin “is a very effective chronobiotic in the treatment of chronobiological alterations of the cycle sleep/wakefulness”, although its administration “must take place at certain hours of the day, inducing a phase advance or delay as convenient”. Therefore, the scientists point out that the “lack of effect of melatonin is related, most of the times, to an inadequate administration”.
The authors of this work, published in the Revista de Neurología (2009), state that endogenous melatonin (this is, that segregated by the human organism) “plays an important role in the circadian regulation of sleep”, whereas exogenous melatonin (administered as a medicine) “has an influence on sleep aspects such as latency and quality”.
Actually, the ability of melatonin to readapt the biological clock has been studied in blind individuals, as they cannot make use of the information of the photoperiod to activate the endogenous pacemaker segregated by melatonin at night. The scientists have pointed out that the administration of melatonin every 24 hours (1-10 mg/a day) re-establishes the pace in these persons, including the sleep/wakefulness, synchronizing them to a period of 24 hours.
The use of melatonin to regulate sleep is not the only work carried out at the Institute of Biotechnology of the UGR. In the last years, professors Acuña and Escames have proved that this substance is also useful to slow down cell ageing, to treat diseases such as Parkinson and to slow down cell death caused by serious infectious processes that affect the entire organism technically known as sepsis. Exactly, they are working at present on a clinical test in Phase II to assess the therapeutic of melatonin in the septic shock on patients, funded by the Health Institute Carlos III.
Reference: Professors Darío Acuña Castroviejo and Germaine Escames Institute of Biotechnology, Biomedical Research Centre of the University of Granada. Phone number. 958 241000 ext. 20169 E-mail. dacuna@ugr.es; gescames@ugr.es
Have been taking it for years. It works like a charm, and keeps you young.
Same here...2.5 mg sublingually every night about an hour before bedtime.
I take 3 mg an hour before bed and a timed-release 3 mg right before I nod off. My problem was: getting to sleep & staying asleep. Problem solved. But it also does wonders for your skin tone.
Excellent! One more vitamin to add to the hand fulls! It is all worth it though especially as I age and keep fit. It makes a huge difference. Thanks for sharing your experience with it.
Bump for later read
And no OTC or prescription meds ever assisted me, that little bottle from the GNC store was a miracle unto itself.
Whose timed-release product do you use?
The cheapo one from Vitamin Shoppe, with their label. There are a bunch of them available.
Since it's close to the center of the brain, I'm curious how you know that you lost it.
At 22, I had some neurological oddities occurring, one example, I had trouble keeping a grip on my pen, my writing was becoming practically illegible, complaints from the girls in the office. A few other things, changes to my eyesight, when my internist noticed I had a slight facial droop on the right side, with all those other things, he sent me to a neurologist, after thorough neuro exam, an MRI showed I had a cyst about the size of a quarter up by the pineal, it began to impinge on my third ventricle, surgery to decompress (more or less pop the blister) recommended. The pineal had to go, the cyst was attached to the cell wall.
Same here. Back when I would go to bed physically tired, I would sleep like a baby. Going to bed psychologically tired is another matter and benefits from some sleep help.
I exercise to “physically tired” daily, but still have trouble sleeping. When mental tiredness was added, I couldn’t sleep at all. Hence the melatonin.
I’ve been taking it every night for a decade, I checked the mirror this morning, it may help you sleep but definately won’t keep you young. I’ve got the wrinkles and gray hair to prove it.
So far, it’s working for me, but I have some years to go before the wrinkles and gray hair. Maybe you need to up your dosage. ;)
I’ve had trouble sleeping as far back as I can remember. Melatonin has worked wonders for my sleep well being. I hope it doesn’t ever become a controlled substance like some European nations.
Shhh.
Don't Ask
“Somebody” has been spending too much time at the Tate and the west wing of the National Gallery escalator landing.
Hmmmm, have a daughter who takes sleeping pills - this is better?
Melatonin is not expensive so why not try? I've not seen this but have read that some melatonin products add other active sleep aids. If I saw that on the label then I wouldn't buy that brand.
I have found that the very low dosage melatonin works fine for me. You can find 300 mcg. melatonin tablets at Wal-Mart. I understand that this particular dosage is patented and with one manufacturer you won’t find it everywhere.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.