What it is:

Most have heard of Melatonin as a hormone secreted by the pineal gland and used in getting a good nights sleep. What most are unaware of, is that this substance has a host of other functions.

Powerful Antioxidant:

Findings suggest that melatonin is an anti-aging therapy. It is a free radical scavenger, and is one of the few antioxidants that is not just site specific.  Vitamin E has a specificity for lipid domains such as membranes in the cells of the body. Melatonin perfuses all the tissues and fluids of the body including the brain.  It does not require receptor sites to respond to "rancidity" occurring in the tissues, cells, and fluids of the body.

Melatonin scavenges the chess knight of free radicals, the deadly hydroxyl radical. It acts as a neurotransmitter between nerve cells. This antioxidant, melatonin, also assists GABA of the inhibitory nerve cells which inturn may help individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Dis- ease. Melatonin may extend the lifespan in humans. It has been shown to do so in mice.

Immune Enhancer:

Melatonin has been shown to improve the immune function by way of rejuvenating shrinking thymus glands. These experiments were performed in mice also.

Cornary Heart Disease:

There appears to be a melatonin need in coronary heart disease according to The Lancet, Vol. 345, Jun.3, 1995, p. 1408. Scientists have shown that the levels of this hormone in those with the heart disease were five times less than in subjects without heart disease.

Breast Cancer:

"The evidence of melatonin's anticancer effect is so strong that some scientists are speculating that the cause of most breast cancer may be due to a melatonin deficiency.  Studies involving frozen blood samples show that women with low melatonin levels are at high risk of breast cancer. When breast cancer does occur, the pineal gland begins secreting abundant amounts of melatonin to fight the cancer.

"Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment suppress melatonin secretion.  What this means is that women with breast cancer should be taking 9 to 20 mg of melatonin at bedtime.  It appears to be the body's natural defense against breast cancer. Melatonin works by interfering with estrogen-receptor sites on cells.  Estrogen causes breast cells to hyperproliferate and melatonin blocks this aciton.

"Since one in nine women will develop breast cancer sometime in her life and high melatonin levbels appear to confer a protective effect, we recommend that all women over 30 consider taking at least one 3 mg melatonin capsule at bedtime. It can improve your sleep and possibly prevent you from getting breast cancer and other forms of cancer."

Malignant Melanoma:

"Melatonin also has been shown to protect against malignant melanoma, which is growing at a higher incidence throughout the world than any other form of cancer."

Who Should Not Use Melatonin:

Melatonin should not be used by pregnant women or those wanting to get pregnant. The reason is because in large doses it acts as a contraceptive.

"Melatonin should not be used by people with leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma. Melatonin's beneficial effect on the immune system could worsen the immune system cancers....  For most people, melatonin works as an antidepressant. If you suffer from depress- ion and feel worse after taking melatonin, discontinue its use."

--From Life Extension Foundation .

Also see:

Science News
Vol. 144. p.109
August 8, 1993.