Melatonin - Health Benefits

Health Benefits and Biological Function of Melatonin

Aging & Life Extension

 Melatonin secretion declines rapidly in tandem with the Aging Process.  Melatonin may retard the Aging Process:  ^[1]

 Melatonin may retard the impairment of the Mitochondria that occurs in tandem with the progression of the Aging Process.

 Melatonin may possess Life Extension properties:  ^[2]

 Melatonin treated mice live for an average 20% longer than untreated mice.  Photographs of old mice treated with Melatonin reveal that their fur is thick and lustrous and their bodies firm and streamlined, while the untreated mice have flabby bodies and wrinkled necks and scruffy coats that are graying in patches.

Cardiovascular System

 Angina patients have lower urinary Melatonin excretion and this lowered Melatonin status may contribute to the occurrence of Angina.  ^[3]

 Melatonin may regulate the tone of the Cerebral Arteries.  ^[4]

 Melatonin may protect the Brain against the Oxidation caused by the reduced Blood Circulation to the Brain that occurs during Cerebral Insufficiency.

 Supplemental Melatonin may lower Blood Pressure in High Blood Pressure patients.  ^[5]

 Restoring low endogenous Melatonin levels to normal by supplementing with Melatonin may help to prevent Ischemic Heart Disease:  ^[6]

 Melatonin may help to prevent Heart Attack.  ^[7]

 Melatonin may protect the Brain against the toxic effects of Ischemia.  ^[8]

 Melatonin may facilitate the production of Platelets and decreases the fluidity of Platelets, therefore, being useful for the treatment of Thrombocytopenia.  ^[9]

 Melatonin may minimize the damage to organs that occurs as a result of Shock due to it's Antioxidant properties.  ^[10]

 Melatonin may reduce the extreme Fatigue, Depression and impaired Immunity that often occur as after-effects of Stroke.  ^[11]

Cells

 Melatonin may inhibit excessive inappropriate, excessive Apoptosis (cellular suicide). 

 Melatonin is capable of influencing every Cell within the human body:

 A Receptor specific to Melatonin has been identified inside the Nucleus of the body's Cells - this Nuclear Melatonin Receptor is believed to account for the ability of Melatonin to cause profound and varied changes throughout the body.  Melatonin (unlike other Hormones) therefore does NOT require a specific Receptor on the outer Cell Membrane to permit it to enter into Cells.

 After its release from the Pineal Gland during the night, Melatonin travels to the Nucleus of all of the body's Cells where it then communicates important regulatory "instructions" to the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) of the Cell - these instructions probably include "youth instructions" that permit each Cell to behave as though it were younger than its chronological age.

 Melatonin may stabilize Cell Membranes.  ^[12]

 Melatonin may prevent Free Radicals from damaging (fragmenting) the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) content of Cells:  ^[13]

 Melatonin may protect the DNA content of Chromosomes from Free Radicals damage and Radioactivity damage.  ^[14]

 Melatonin may preserve the integrity of the Mitochondria:  ^[15]

 Melatonin may retard the impairment of the Mitochondria that occurs in tandem with the progression of the Aging Process. 

Digestive System

 Melatonin may help to prevent and treat (childhood) Colic.  ^[16]

 Melatonin may alleviate the symptoms of Colitis:  ^[17]

 Melatonin may help to prevent and treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome.  ^[18]

 Melatonin may help to prevent and treat Ulcerative Colitis.  ^[19]

 Melatonin may help to protect against damage caused to the Duodenum from oral intake of Alcohol (ethanol).  ^[20]

 Melatonin may help to prevent Gallstones.  ^[21]

 Melatonin may exert protective effects on the Gastric Mucosa.  ^[22]

 Melatonin may prevent Ulcers - Gastric.  ^[23]

 Melatonin may alleviate Heartburn.  ^[24]

 Melatonin may be useful for the treatment of Indigestion (especially the ulcerlike dyspepsia form of Indigestion).  ^[25]