Melatonin P.R.

by Douglas Laboratories

Melatonin is a natural hormone nutrient that is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan by the pineal glandin the back of the brain. Melatonin also occurs in small amounts in a variety of foods. In the body, melatoninappears to regulate sleep/wake cycles, support normal immune function, and protect cells from free radicaldamage. Most of the research on melatonin has focused on its role in maintaining normal sleep/wake rhythms.The perception of daylight in the eyes is a signal for the pineal gland to inhibit melatonin synthesis and release.At night or in the dark, the body’s melatonin production rises. The rise in plasma melatonin is thought to beresponsible for bringing on sleep. Nocturnal melatonin production is highest in children and begins to declinefrom adolescence on until it is virtually absent in the elderly.Melatonin supports normal immune function by helping maintain the activity of circulating natural killer cells.† Italso has been found to function as an antagonist for occasional stress-induced immune-suppression.Melatonin is considered an antioxidant that enters all body cells to help prevent free radical damage.† In thebrain, melatonin is perhaps the most important physiological antioxidant. Due to its lipid and water-solubleproperties, it can freely cross the blood-brain barrier. In vitro studies show that melatonin is more effectivethan glutathione in scavenging toxic hydroxyl radicals, and also more efficient than vitamin E in neutralizingperoxyl radicals which can induce DNA damage. Furthermore, melatonin stimulates the main antioxidantenzyme of the brain, glutathione peroxidase