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Melatonin

The role of melatonin in the body

Melatonin is the hormone produced pineal gland (epiphysis) In response to darkness. He regulates Circadian rhythms (sleep-wake) and has powerful antioxidant, immunomodulatory and antitumor properties.

Main functions:

  1. Sleep regulation:
  • Reduces sleep time.
  • Improves the quality of deep sleep.
  1. Antioxidant Protection:
  • Neutralizes free radicals.
  • Slows down cell aging.
  1. Immune system:
  • Stimulates the activity of NK cells.
  • Suppresses excessive inflammation.
  1. Hormonal balance:
  • regulates production cortisol, leptin, insulin.
  1. Oncoprotective action:
  • Reduces the risk of breast cancer, prostate (blocks estrogen-dependent tumors).

Melatonin analysis

The level of melatonin can be measured in:

  • blood (peak concentration – at night, between 23:00 and 3:00).
  • Saliva (non-invasive method).
  • urine (6-sulfatoxymelatonin, AMT6S) – Reflects Daily production of melatonin.

Melatonin Norms:

Biological sampleCollection timeReference values
Blood (pg/mL)Night (2:00–4:00)80–150 pg/mL
Saliva (pg/mL)11:00 PM – 12:00 AM10–60 pg/mL
Urine (aMT6s, ng/mL)First-morning void15–80 ng/mL
24-hour urine (µg/24h)24 hours10–60 µg/24h

Note: Norms depend on the laboratory. In older people, the level of melatonin decreases by 2-3 times.

Symptoms of melatonin deficiency

  1. Sleep disturbances:
  • Insomnia, frequent awakening.
  • superficial sleep.
  1. Day symptoms:
  • Fatigue, irritability.
  • decrease in concentration.
  1. Long-term consequences:
  • Increased risk Depression, Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Weakened immunity.
  • Accelerated aging.

Risk groups:

  • elderly people (age decrease in production).
  • night shift workers.
  • People with epiphysis damage (trauma, tumors).

Symptoms of excess melatonin

Overdose is possible only when taking synthetic melatonin. The natural excess is almost never found.

Signs:

  • Daytime sleepiness, lethargy.
  • dizziness, nausea.
  • Reducing libido (with prolonged use of high doses).
  • oppression of the output own melatonin (if incorrect use of additives).

Safe Dose of Supplements: 0.5–5 mg/day (start with minimum).

How to increase melatonin naturally?

  1. Daily routine:
  • lay down to 23:00.
  • Sleep in complete darkness.
  1. Diet:
  • Tryptophan (turkey, bananas, nuts).
  • Vitamin B6 (salmon, garlic).
  1. Supplements (as prescribed by a doctor):
  • melatonin tablets (1-3 mg 30 minutes before bedtime).
  • phytotherapy (Valerian, Passiflora).

When is the analysis assigned?

  1. Chronic insomnia.
  2. suspicion of dysfunction of the epiphysis.
  3. Efficiency mark melatonin therapy.

Conclusion

  • Melatonin – Key hormone of sleep and antioxidant protection.
  • Night urine norm (AMT6S): 15–80 ng/ml.
  • Deficit leads to insomnia and accelerated aging.
  • Excess It is possible only for an overdose of additives.