Some of the best studies on melatonin: properties, intake, effects

Akyuz E, Kullu I, Arulsamy A, Shaikh MF. Melatonin as an Antiepileptic Molecule: Therapeutic Implications via Neuroprotective and Inflammatory Mechanisms. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2021 Apr 4. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00083.

Sumsuzzman DM, Khan ZA, Choi J, Hong Y. Differential role of melatonin in healthy brain aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the SAMP8 model. Aging (Albany NY). 2021 Apr 2;13. doi: 10.18632/aging.202894. 

Chan V, Wang L, Allman-Farinelli M. Efficacy of Functional Foods, Beverages, and Supplements Claiming to Alleviate Air Travel Symptoms: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2021 Mar 16;13(3):961. doi: 10.3390/nu13030961. 

Briguglio G, Teodoro M, Italia S, Verduci F, Pollicino M, Coco M, De Vita A, Micali E, Alibrandi A, Lembo G, Costa C, Fenga C. Salivary Biomarkers and Work-Related Stress in Night Shift Workers. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 19;18(6):3184. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18063184.

Zhang D, Xu S, Wang Y, Zhu G. The Potentials of Melatonin in the Prevention and Treatment of Bacterial Meningitis Disease. Molecules. 2021 Mar 5;26(5):1419. doi: 10.3390/molecules26051419. 

Amaral FGD, Cipolla-Neto J. A brief review about melatonin, a pineal hormone. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2018 Aug;62(4):472-479. doi: 10.20945/2359-3997000000066.

Habtemariam S, Daglia M, Sureda A, Selamoglu Z, Gulhan MF, Nabavi SM. Melatonin and Respiratory Diseases: A Review. Curr Top Med Chem. 2017;17(4):467-488. doi: 10.2174/1568026616666160824120338.

Cipolla-Neto J, Amaral FGD. Melatonin as a Hormone: New Physiological and Clinical Insights. Endocr Rev. 2018 Dec 1;39(6):990-1028. doi: 10.1210/er.2018-00084. 

Reiter RJ, Tan DX, Galano A. Melatonin: exceeding expectations. Physiology (Bethesda). 2014 Sep;29(5):325-33. doi: 10.1152/physiol.00011.2014.

Morera-Fumero AL, Abreu-Gonzalez P. Role of melatonin in schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci. 2013 Apr 25;14(5):9037-50. doi: 10.3390/ijms14059037.

González-González A, Mediavilla MD, Sánchez-Barceló EJ. Melatonin: A Molecule for Reducing Breast Cancer Risk. Molecules. 2018 Feb 6;23(2):336. doi: 10.3390/molecules23020336.

Quera-Salva MA, Claustrat B. Mélatonine : aspects physiologiques et pharmacologiques en relation avec le sommeil, intérêt d’une forme galénique à libération prolongée (Circadin®) dans l’insomnie [Melatonin: Physiological and pharmacological aspects related to sleep: The interest of a prolonged-release formulation (Circadin®) in insomnia]. Encephale. 2018 Dec;44(6):548-557. French. doi: 10.1016/j.encep.2018.06.005.

Huysmans S, De Hert M, Desplenter F. Melatonine en slaapstoornissen: literatuuroverzicht en toetsing aan de psychiatrische praktijk [Melatonin and sleep disorders: Overview of literature and testing in psychiatric practice]. Tijdschr Psychiatr. 2019;61(12):854-861. 

Carrascal L, Nunez-Abades P, Ayala A, Cano M. Role of Melatonin in the Inflammatory Process and its Therapeutic Potential. Curr Pharm Des. 2018;24(14):1563-1588.

Melatonin is a methoxyindole synthesized and secreted by the pineal gland of human body and it is present in almost every live being from bacteria to humans.

The pineal gland is located in the geometric center of the human brain and is an organ that synthesizes melatonin as a signaling molecule of natural environmental changes and a powerful neuronal protective antioxidant.

Melatonin is a hormone that modulates sleep cycles and is normally released during darkness in the 24 hours, reaching its peak in the middle of the night in dark conditions.

The primary physiological function of melatonin, whose secretion adjusts to night length, is to convey information concerning the daily cycle of light and darkness to body structures. This information is used for the organisation of functions, which respond to changes in the photoperiod such as the seasonal rhythms. Seasonal rhythmicity of physiological functions in humans related to possible alteration of the melatonin message remains, however, of limited evidence in temperate areas under field conditions. Also, the daily melatonin secretion, which is a very robust biochemical signal of night, can be used for the organisation of circadian rhythms.(1)

Take only under medical supervision

Melatonin can be safe and effective in treating both primary sleep disorders and the sleep disorders associated with various neurological conditions. (2)

Studies have demonstrated that melatonin has significant effects on ischemia-reperfusion injury, myocardial chronic intermittent hypoxia injury, pulmonary hypertension, hypertension, valvular heart diseases, vascular diseases, and lipid metabolism. As an inexpensive and well tolerated drug, melatonin may be a new therapeutic option for cardiovascular disease.(3)

There is highly credible evidence that melatonin mitigates cancer at the initiation, progression and metastasis phases. In many cases, the molecular mechanisms underpinning these inhibitory actions have been proposed. What is rather perplexing, however, is the large number of processes by which melatonin reportedly restrains cancer development and growth. (4)

References_______________________________________________________

(1) Claustrat B, Leston J. Melatonin: Physiological effects in humans. Neurochirurgie. 2015 Apr-Jun;61(2-3):77-84. doi: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2015.03.002. 

(2) Esposito S, Laino D, D'Alonzo R, Mencarelli A, Di Genova L, Fattorusso A, Argentiero A, Mencaroni E. Pediatric sleep disturbances and treatment with melatonin. J Transl Med. 2019 Mar 12;17(1):77. doi: 10.1186/s12967-019-1835-1

(3) Sun H, Gusdon AM, Qu S. Effects of melatonin on cardiovascular diseases: progress in the past year. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2016 Aug;27(4):408-13. doi: 10.1097/MOL.0000000000000314.

(4) Reiter RJ, Rosales-Corral SA, Tan DX, Acuna-Castroviejo D, Qin L, Yang SF, Xu K. Melatonin, a Full Service Anti-Cancer Agent: Inhibition of Initiation, Progression and Metastasis. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Apr 17;18(4):843. doi: 10.3390/ijms18040843.