The pineal gland in the brain secretes melatonin, a hormone that is also present in some amount in the gut, eyes, and bone marrow. It assists the body in determining when to sleep and wake up. Because it can facilitate sleep, it's frequently referred to as the "sleep hormone." Melatonin is produced and released by the brain according to the time of day, rising in the dark and falling in the light. Light is processed by the retina, a layer of tissue within the eye, which then sends this energy to the pineal gland in the brain. Melatonin is then released into the bloodstream by the pineal gland. Circulating blood carries melatonin from the brain to the rest of the body. With age, melatonin production decreases. In the form of an oral tablet or capsule, melatonin is also offered as a dietary supplement. Melatonin is frequently used by people to treat sleep disorders like jet lag and insomnia.
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The pineal gland is a tiny, pea-shaped gland that is situated in the epithalamus, which is a region in the center of the human brain between the two hemispheres. This gland, socalled because of its pinecone form, releases melatonin, which affects the body's circadian clock. The pineal gland was the last component of the endocrine system to be found and is the gland with the least amount of knowledge. The pineal gland's primary job is to gather data from the retinas in the eyes about the daily cycle of day and night and then make and release/secrete melatonin following that information, with elevated amounts at night (during the hours of darkness) and low levels during the day (during light hours).
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Melatonin helps in controlling the sleep-wake cycle of the body and synchronizes the circadian rhythm.
It has a minor role in reproductive development.
It controls the female menstrual cycle.
Demonstrated to play a soothing and neuroprotective impact in the fight against neuro-degenerative illness.
Boosts immunity and lowers the risk of infections as well as chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
Melatonin seems to slow down aging by preventing DNA oxidative damage.
Helps to maintain an optimal body temperature at night.
Regulates blood pressure and guards against hypertension.
It is crucial for controlling the body's seasonal biology in animals, including reproduction, behavior, coat growth, etc.
Numerous clinical disorders have been associated with melatonin hypo- and hyperproduction as well as defective melatonin receptor signaling.
Sleep difficulties, metabolic syndrome, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, hypertension, and an increased risk of diabetes and cancer are just a few of the symptoms that can result from decreased melatonin production. Typically brought on by illness, aging, or environmental disruption. Hypomelatoninemia may be improved by melatonin replacement medication.
Anorexia nervosa, spontaneous hypothermia, hyperhidrosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome are among the rare medical conditions that can be brought on by melatonin overproduction. Daytime sleepiness, low body temperature, hypotonia, and vertigo are possible symptoms. Beta-blockers and phototherapy may help these symptoms improve.
The blood melatonin nocturnal curve is displaced in time in patients with this putative condition, although the daily melatonin peak's magnitude is typically unaltered. Each patient's treatment should be customized for the best melatonin timing and dosage, taking into account the desired phase-shifting impact
Despite appropriate melatonin production and timing, these instances are characterized by poor central and peripheral responses of the organs to melatonin. This response, which is mostly brought on by genetic differences in melatonin receptors, causes chronodisruption and symptoms associated with it as well as the possibility of conditions including type 2 diabetes, sleep problems, Graves’ disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and others.
A hormone produced naturally, melatonin seems to have few undesirable side effects. Due to this, scientists have examined its efficacy as a natural supplement for several illnesses, such as −
Sleep problems − Melatonin is mainly used to treat people who have sleep problems aged above 55.
Jet lags &minus ;The use of melatonin helps to reduce tiredness and other jet lag symptoms.
Headaches − It is useful for migraine and other cluster headaches.
Cancer − The use of melatonin along with chemotherapy or other cancer treatment methods increase the survival rate of patients.
Alzheimer's disease − Melatonin seems to mitigate the cognitive deterioration brought on by Alzheimer's disease.
Tinnitus − The signs of tinnitus may be slightly alleviated by melatonin. This result might be brought on by better sleep or melatonin's antioxidant qualities.
Radioactivity protection − In addition to having anticancer properties, melatonin is an antioxidant that aids in limiting the negative effects of radiation therapy's free radicals.
The pineal gland, which is located in the center of the forebrain, secretes the melatonin hormone which is more abundant at night. Melatonin hormone mainly controls the body's circadian rhythm, which regulates waking and sleeping cycles. But it also affects the release of hormones from every endocrine gland in the body.
Additionally, it has an impact on areas particular to certain organs, such as the digestive system, which has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, weight-management, and anti-aging properties. Melatonin production mainly happens at night and it is advisable to have a proper sleep routine for efficient melatonin production and thereby maintaining the body’s sleep cycle.
Q1. How is the amount of melatonin in the blood determined?
Ans. A lab test can be used to determine the blood's melatonin levels. It can be identified with a blood, saliva, or urine test.
Q2. What foods are melatonin-rich?
Ans. Many different fruits, vegetables, and nuts can raise our body's melatonin levels. Fish, eggs, cheese, tomatoes, broccoli, asparagus, olives, cucumber, corn, pineapple, grapes, cherries, berries, pomegranate, etc., are among the foods high in melatonin.
Q3. How do the brain and body produce melatonin?
Ans. Tryptophan is an amino acid that the body uses to make melatonin. The bloodstream carries the dietary tryptophan to all parts of the body, including the pineal gland. Tryptophan is converted to serotonin in the pineal gland. Melatonin is then produced from serotonin.
Q4. Impact of blue light on melatonin production?
Ans. The use of electronic devices at night time such as laptops, mobile phones, and television which emit blue light disrupts sleep by stimulating the brain and thereby blocking melatonin production.
Q5. What are the adverse effects of melatonin supplement intake?
Ans. Certain moderate adverse effects have been associated with greater doses and extended-release forms of melatonin, which include: drowsiness, daytime slumber, headaches, and nausea. There is no proof that melatonin tolerance develops in people.
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