Systematic (MSVHD) name:
N-acetamide
Clinical data:
Consumer Information
Legality: Prescription only in Australia (S4); in the UK - only by prescription, in the USA without a prescription;
Directions for use: orally, dissolves under the tongue, subcutaneously;
Pharmacokinetic data:
Bioavailability: 30-50%
Metabolism: in the liver via 6-hydroxylation of CYP1A2
Half-life: 35-50 minutes
Excreted in urine
Chemical data:
Formula: C 13 H 16 N 2 O 2
Molecular weight: 232.278 g/mol
Melatonin (chemical name N-acetyl-5-methoxy tryptamine) is present in animals, plants, fungi and bacteria. . In most of the described organisms, with the exception of animals, it is used intermittently. In animals, this hormone helps determine the onset of darkness. In animal cells, melatonin is directly synthesized from the essential amino acid, in other organisms - using shikimic acid. In animals, melatonin is involved in the formation of the circadian rhythm and physiological functions, such as sleep time, blood pressure regulation, seasonal mating and reproduction, and others. Most of the biological effects of melatonin in animals are mediated by melatonin receptors, but other effects are based on the fact that melatonin is a pervasive and powerful antioxidant and is also involved in the protection of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Melatonin can be used as a sleep aid for some sleep disorders. May be taken in capsule, tablet or liquid form. Also available as sublingual tablets and transdermal patches. At the moment, there are not many long-term studies on the effects of melatonin in humans.
Melatonin was discovered through research into the ability of amphibians and reptiles to change skin color. In early 1917, Carey Pratt McCord and Floyd Allen discovered that applying an extract of bovine pineal glands lightened the color of tadpoles by shrinking the dark epidermal melanophores. In 1958, dermatology professor Aaron Lerner and his colleagues isolated a hormone from the bovine pineal gland and named it melatonin, in the hope that the substance contained in the pineal glands would help treat skin diseases. In the mid-70s, Lynch et al. have proven that melatonin in the human pineal glands affects the circadian rhythm. Melatonin's role as an antioxidant was discovered in 1993. The first patent for the use of melatonin as a sleep aid belongs to Richard Wurtman and dates back to 1995. Around the same time, melatonin was credited with the ability to treat many diseases. In 2000, the New England Journal of Medicine wrote: “Hypotheses and unfounded claims that melatonin is a miracle cure have significantly delayed the process of identifying melatonin's true importance for human health. Today, thanks to rigorous observations of blind people, the potential of melatonin is clearer than ever, as is the importance of timing in treatment. Our society, which is on the move 24 hours a day and does not see the light of God? now he knows how they can feel the passage of time.”
Melatonin biosynthesis in humans and some organisms undergoes four enzymatic steps and originates in the essential dietary amino acid tryptophan and then follows the pathway of serotonin. During the first two steps, L-tryptophan is first converted to 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP) by the enzyme tryptophan 5-hydroxylase. 5-HTP is then decarboxylated (a CO2 molecule is removed) by 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase to produce serotonin. Further reactions occur under the influence external factors(Sveta). In darkness, a critical enzyme, aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), is activated and converts serotonin to N-acetyl serotonin, which in turn is converted to melatonin by acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase. This process is the main regulator of the synthesis of melatonin from tryptophan, since the action of the AANAT gene directly depends on the photoperiod. In bacteria, protists, fungi and plants, melatonin synthesis does not occur directly with tryptophan, as it is a by-product of the shikimic acid pathway. In these organisms, synthesis begins with d-erythrose-4-phosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate, as well as in photosynthetic cells with carbon dioxide. The remaining reactions are similar, but the last two enzymes may vary.
As part of vegetables, the secretion of melatonin is regulated. Norepinephrine increases intracellular cAMP concentrations through beta-adrenergic receptors and activates cAMP-dependent kinase A (PKA). PKA phosphorylates the penultimate enzyme, arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT). Upon exposure to (day) light, noradrenergic stimulation ceases and the protein is immediately destroyed by proteasomal proteolysis. Melatonin production begins again in the evening under the influence of light of a certain spectrum. This light is essentially blue, 460-480 nm, which allows you to restrain melatonin in proportion to the intensity and length of exposure. Until now, people living in temperate climates were exposed to several hours of (blue) daylight in winter. Incandescent light bulbs, widely used in the twentieth century, produced relatively small amounts of blue light. Kayumov et al. proved that only light whose length is greater than 530 nm is not able to suppress melatonin in a bright room. Wearing blue light blocking glasses a few hours before bed can reduce melatonin loss. This tip is useful for those who need to fall asleep earlier than usual, since melatonin causes drowsiness.
According to the phase profile of melatonin's effects in humans, taking 0.3 mg of melatonin a few hours before bed sets the circadian clock back, allowing you to fall asleep earlier and wake up earlier. In humans, 90% of orally ingested melatonin passes through the liver, a small amount is excreted in the urine, and a small amount is also found in saliva.
In animals, melatonin is produced in the dark, mainly at night. It is produced by the pineal gland, small gland internal secretion, located in the central part of the brain, but outside the blood-brain barrier. Information about the presence of light reaches the suprachiasmatic nucleus through the retinal photosensitive ganglion cells of the eye. Melatonin is known as the “hormone of darkness” and a rise in melatonin levels allows nocturnal animals to stay awake at night, and diurnal animals to sleep. Variation in melatonin production provides animals with a “seasonal clock” because, like humans, the production of this hormone depends on the length of the night at different times of the year. Thus, the duration of melatonin secretion serves as a biological signal for the correct distribution of daylight hours for reproduction, general behavior, and hair or feather growth. In animals with a limited mating period, the gestation period is also short and they mate in daytime days. Their melatonin signals shape their sexual psychology; examples of such animals are starlings and hamsters. Melatonin can suppress libido by secreting luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone from the anterior pituitary gland, especially in mammals whose mating season occurs during the day. Thus, melatonin makes it possible to control the excess of offspring in animals that mate in the daytime during a long period of time. daylight hours, and stimulate reproductive functions during short daylight hours. During the night, melatonin regulates the level, reducing it.
Melatonin is found in many plants, including (Tanacetum parthenium), ((Hypericum perforatum), rice, corn, tomatoes, grapes and other edible fruits. The physiological role of melatonin in plants is to regulate their response to photoperiod, protection from harsh growing conditions , as well as an antioxidant effect, Melatonin also regulates plant growth as it slows down the root growth process, accelerating the growth of the outer part of the plant.
In animals, the main function of melatonin is to regulate the day-night cycle. In infants, melatonin levels stabilize to a constant level as early as the third month after birth, and reach their highest threshold around 8 pm. Melatonin production decreases as people age. As children become teenagers, the timing of melatonin production at night changes, leading to late sleep and late waking.
In addition to its role as a biological clock adjuster, melatonin is a powerful broad-spectrum antioxidant, which was discovered in 1993. In many simple organisms melatonin performs only this function. Melatonin is an antioxidant that easily penetrates cell membranes and crosses the blood-brain barrier. This antioxidant eliminates oxygen and nitrogen radicals, including OH, O2−, and NO. Melatonin in combination with other antioxidants can increase their effectiveness. Melatonin is twice as active, which was previously thought to be the most effective lipophilic antioxidant. An important distinguishing feature of melatonin is that its metabolites are also radical scavengers. Melatonin also differs from antioxidants such as vitamins C and E in that it has amphiphilic properties. When compared with synthetic antioxidants (MitoQ and MitoE), it was found that melatonin is better able to protect mitochondria from the effects of oxidation.
Although melatonin is known to interact with the immune system, it is not clear exactly how. The anti-inflammatory effect is the most studied and described at the moment. A number of studies have been conducted to determine the effectiveness of melatonin in combating certain diseases. Much of the existing information is based on small and incomplete clinical studies. It is believed that any positive impact melatonin affects the immune system due to the fact that melatonin acts on high-affinity receptors (MT1 and MT2) in immunocompetent cells. Preclinical studies have shown that melatonin may increase cytokine production. Some studies suggest melatonin may help with infectious diseases, including viruses such as HIV and infections, and possibly cancer. In people suffering from rheumatitis, compared with healthy people of the same age was identified increased production melatonin.
In vitro, melatonin is able to combine with cadmium and other metals.
The US Food and Drug Administration classifies melatonin as a dietary supplement. It is freely available throughout the United States and Canada and its distribution (unlike any other medicines) is not regulated in any way. However, according to the new rules of this department, from 2010 all dietary supplements must be produced according to the proper and high-quality technology current at the time of production. Products must carry appropriate labels, such as “non-toxic.” Manufacturers must also notify FDA that dietary supplements may cause side effects. In Europe, melatonin falls under the category of neurohormones and is not marketed.
Melatonin is found in food: in cherries - 0.17-13.46 ng/g, in bananas and grapes, in cereals, herbs, olive oil, wine and beer. When birds eat melatonin-rich fruits, melatonin binds to melatonin receptors in their brains. When melatonin-containing foods are consumed by a person, the level of melatonin in the blood increases significantly (such foods include bananas, pineapples and oranges). The New York Times reported in May 2011 that stores, clubs and kiosks were selling drinks and snacks containing melatonin. The FDA has verified that these products carry the required information and the “dietary supplement” label. In January 2010, the agency already sent a letter to the company Innovative Beverage, which produces “relaxation drinks”, stating that melatonin is not a dietary supplement because its safety has not yet been determined.
The effect of melatonin on insomnia in old age was studied. Long-term exposure to melatonin has shown positive results. Melatonin has also been shown to help with circadian imbalance and seasonal affective disorder. Melatonin may also reduce withdrawal symptoms when quitting drugs such as cocaine, according to standard research. .
In 2004, it was found that melatonin did not improve sleep quality or help people with shift work schedules or those who fly frequently and move between time zones fall asleep. On the other hand, melatonin has been shown to reduce sleep latency and improve sleep quality in people with chronic sleep deprivation. Long-term and short-term use of melatonin has shown that melatonin is safe and effective in improving sleep latency, sleep quality, and attention in people with insomnia. Some studies have shown that increasing the time of melatonin production helped improve the quality of sleep in patients, as well as in people with. In addition, increasing the time of melatonin production contributed to the normalization of the sleep cycle in children with neurological development problems. Two placebo-blind studies found that melatonin helped normalize blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure at night. Taking melatonin in the evening, along with light therapy after sleep, are standard treatments for dysania, when circadian biorhythms are not tied to changes in the time of day. These methods are also applicable against other sleep problems and poor circadian rhythm, jet lag, and those disorders that occur in people with shift work schedules. Melatonin significantly reduces the increase in sleep latency in people with dysonia (compared to insomnia). Melatonin increases sleep duration in people with shift work schedules. According to the phase characteristics of melatonin in humans, taking an extremely small dose before bed does not cause drowsiness, but acts as a chronobiotic (affects the “internal clock”) and promotes addiction to morning light therapy. Light therapy can cause a shift in sleep phase by an hour or two, and taking 0.3 or 3 mg of melatonin orally can add about 30 more minutes to this time period. When taking the above dose twice, no difference was observed. Pre- and post-operative anxiety Melatonin, compared with placebo, is effective in reducing preoperative anxiety in adults. In addition, its effectiveness is comparable to the standard drug, midazolam. Melatonin, compared with placebo, also reduced postoperative anxiety (measured 6 hours after surgery).
According to studies, melatonin prescribed to patients who were also given it helped reduce the time it took to fall asleep. Moreover, this effect did not weaken even after 3 months of use.
Several clinical trials have found that taking melatonin prevents migraines and cluster headaches.
A systematic review of open-label clinical trials of 643 cancer patients found that melatonin use reduced the risk of death, but concluded that it would not be fully confirmed this effect Blind trials of independent groups are required. The National Institute of Cancer Research has concluded that the information obtained from open-label clinical trials is not valid.
Melatonin, contained in the gallbladder, has a number of protective properties– converts cholesterol into bile, prevents oxidative processes, and also promotes improved removal of gallstones. It also reduces cholesterol levels by regulating its passage through the intestinal wall. In people and animals leading a diurnal lifestyle, the level of melatonin in bile is 2-3 times higher than in the blood during the daytime.
Several studies on the effects of melanin in adults have found that melatonin can be used to treat tinnitus.
Some people taking melatonin report an increase in the number of dreams they have per night. Extremely high doses of melatonin (50 mg) seriously prolong REM sleep in both people suffering and healthy.
Melatonin significantly improves sleep quality in people with autism spectrum disorder. Research has shown that children with autism have altered melatonin pathways and lower than average melatonin levels. Taking melatonin helps increase sleep duration, increases sleep latency, and also prevents waking up at night. Most of the studies conducted are based on information obtained from patients themselves, so more thorough research is needed.
Although melatonin product labels warn against using melatonin in children, studies have shown that melatonin is an effective and safe treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and insomnia. More research is needed to determine the safety and optimal dose for long-term use of melatonin.
Melatonin significantly softens negative effects symptoms associated with abrupt withdrawal, such as anxiety, agitation, tension, depression, anger and cigarette cravings.
With short-term use (up to 3 months), melatonin in small dosages causes virtually no side effects. A 2006 systematic review found that melatonin was not useful for treating sleep disorders associated with jet lag and shift work, although it was safe for short-term use. Increasing the timing of melatonin production is also safe for up to 12 months. Side effects of melatonin include nausea, dizziness the day after taking it, irritability and decreased blood flow and hypothermia. In people with orthostatic instability and decreased blood pressure and blood flow in the brain when rising from a horizontal position, melatonin may also help. At autoimmune diseases It is not known whether melatonin helps or, on the contrary, aggravates the situation. Melatonin may reduce FSH levels. The effects on reproduction are still unknown, although in 1990 some effect was noted when melatonin was used as a contraceptive. Melatonin has very little toxicity in female rats. Recent studies have found that melatonin has a toxic effect on photoreceptor cells in the pupils of rats when exposed to significant amounts of sunlight, and also leads to the formation of tumors in white mice. Animal model studies have shown that increasing melatonin bioavailability aggravates symptoms, while decreasing melatonin may improve symptoms. Melatonin may worsen neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease in rats.
In countries where melatonin is freely distributed, the sale of pure melatonin is not regulated. Doses of pure melatonin range from less than half a milligram to 5 mg or more. Taking pure melatonin can increase blood melatonin levels to peak levels in just an hour. The hormone can be taken orally, as capsules, tablets, or liquid. You can also take it sublingually or use transdermal patches. Pure melatonin is sold freely on the Internet and presented as a dietary supplement. Essentially, melatonin is derived from animal pinial tissue. At the moment, this hormone is synthetic and there is no risk of transmission of viruses from animals.
Melatonin may be prescribed as an extended-release formulation. Melatonin is released over a period of 8-10 hours, which essentially copies the behavior of melatonin in the body. The European Medicines Agency has confirmed the safety of prescribing melatonin as an extended-release formulation for people 55 years of age or older and recommends it for the treatment of insomnia or troubled sleep. Agencies from other countries that confirmed this fact:
Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration
Israeli Ministry of Health
Norwegian Medical Agency
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of Korea
Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Goods
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The original was taken from
If you have already read chapters 1 and 2 of “Pathophysiological Research...”, then you can well imagine how all living things are interconnected in a single pulsating pattern of organizational interaction. One of the clearest evidence of the existence of this pattern is rhythms. They reflect the two main trends of the Universe. One of them literally creates Everything from Nothing, the other, in the same way, turns everything that exists into the great Nothing. Everything, absolutely everything, processes in nature proceed rhythmically, through alternating changes in their various states. The orbits of the planets have points of apogee and perigee, day follows night, the ebb and flow of the tides relentlessly follow the Moon, as well as periodic bleeding in women. Not to mention the microcosm, where all phenomena can be represented in the form of oscillatory processes of various types.
In the process of evolution, natural objects have become significantly more complex. But, despite their enormous complexity, they are subject to the simple law of hierarchical structure. And one of the consequences of this law is that in a complex object the rhythms of all the simpler entities from which it is created are harmoniously coordinated with each other.
The simplest analogy of this kind is a clock mechanism. Look at its inner beauty: each gear is in its place, has the right number of teeth, and fits into the others in exactly the place intended for it. Once you release the wound spring, the gears will spin in strict order. Neither of them can do this before the other, otherwise the clock will either show the wrong time or simply jam. Or imagine a complex dance in which each of the dancers must perform their movement at a certain second. Conveyor operation. Musical symphony. There are many examples.
It becomes clear why every action must occur on time. Especially if it takes place inside a complex biological object - such as our body. All actions in it are determined and controlled. In the same way, the body can control its own rhythms, maintaining their constancy and adapting to changes in the environment. Such a thing as jet-lag, or time zone change syndrome, is familiar to everyone who frequently flies on airplanes. Some people don’t notice anything, some experience intestinal discomfort, while others cannot sleep a wink or sleep like marmots for a couple of days. This is the body adapting to the new length of daylight.
Rhythm, on the one hand, is a consequence of the work to preserve our basic constants. But, on the other hand, it is also a constant that comes from our environment. As a constant value, our rhythms depend on the geographical, planetary, and, probably, cosmic location, which determines the regime of external radiation exposure in a given solar system. To put it simply, the change of day and night. Therefore, in the process of evolution, as inhabitants of planet Earth, we have developed a way to maintain such a constant: a substance that provides external control of the consistency of biological rhythms - melatonin. We'll talk about it today. From the above, its extremely important role in the functioning of our body is extremely clear.
According to its biological action, melatonin is a hormone. Its formula is C13H16N2O2
Structural formula
It was first discovered by a research group led by American dermatologist A. Lerner in 1958. Having processed 250 thousand bovine pineal glands, scientists discovered biologically active substance, which lightened the skin color of frogs by stimulating the release of melanin from melanophores. It is because of this effect that the substance was named melatonin. Interest in this hormone has not waned since its discovery. Many studies have been carried out in which the pineal (pineal) gland was considered as its only source. But in more recent studies, the significant breadth of its effects has led scientists to doubt that it is produced only by the pineal gland. What is its effect in the body?
coordination of biological rhythms
control of the sex glands
immunomodulatory effect
participation in antioxidant defense mechanisms
transmission of nerve impulses (neurotransmitter function)
protection of genetic information
is one of the signaling molecules
anti-carcinogenic effect
sedative effect on the central nervous system
geroprotective effect (protection against aging)
As you can see, this hormone is capable of influencing both individual organs and cells and the entire body as a whole. This, coupled with its chemical structure, leads us to believe that its appearance in the evolution of living things occurred at least at the level of the cell compartment, if we take into account the fact that it is capable of protecting macromolecules, as well as nuclear and mitochondrial DNA from damage in all subcellular structures. Accordingly, you can try to detect it in other cells of the body. This became possible with the advent specific methods research. One of the first such methods was the detection of antibodies to indolealkylamines (chemical family MT). Because one of the most represented actions of MT in the body is the regulation of the “internal clock” according to daylight hours, it would be logical to assume that first of all the hormone will be found in the cells of organs that are somehow associated with light, namely in the visual apparatus. And so it happened. Melatonin precursors and associated catalytic enzymes have been discovered in the retina. The schematic diagram of its synthesis looks like this:
(amino acid) -> 5-OXYTRYPTOPHAN -> 5-OXYTRYPTAMINE (serotonin) -> N-ACETYLSEROTONIN -> MELATONIN
As mentioned above, melatonin can also be produced by other cells in our body. At the same time, we assumed that the evolutionary age of this hormone is quite long. Therefore, it can be assumed that it is produced in many cells of the body.
You can imagine how many super complex processes are capable of regulating, and all these cells do this every second. However, despite data on the active participation of MTs in adaptation processes, pathophysiological mechanisms, and many other things, the significance of this external, in relation to the pineal gland, department that secretes MTs has been practically not studied. (emphasis is ours, editor's note) But all these cells together are much more than are in the pineal body itself!!!
And finally, in this part of the article I would like to highlight some aspects of melatonin production. The intensity of its metabolism depends primarily on the level of illumination. The level of GIOMT, the main enzyme responsible for production, in the pineal gland at night is 3.5 times higher than during the day. At the same time, the level of serotonin in its cells drops proportionally by 7-9 times. This shows a clear dependence of MT synthesis on the circadian (24-day) rhythm.
Light is a powerful physicochemical factor that inhibits (stops) the synthesis of melatonin. Even a short pulse of light received at night suppresses MT secretion, and its effect depends on many components: wavelength, flow power, and even spectrum. White light works most effectively in this vein, in combination with green, blue, and red (experiments on rats).
Nocturnal melatonin production peaks at 2 a.m. The influence of various conditions on this process is also noted:
Nutrition: after a 2-day fast, the level of MT decreases by 19%, while the other group of fasting people received glucose, the level of MT did not decrease. There is information that after a 72-day fast, daytime MT levels increase, while nighttime levels remain unchanged.
Exercise: High-intensity exercise performed at night increases secretion by another 50%, but reduces it by 2-3 times the next night. Exercising during the day increases your daily levels.
Magnetic environment: continuous action of polymer fields (with frequently changing parameters) increases the excretion of 6-COMT, the main indicator by which melatonin levels are measured. At the same time, among electricians and people working with low-frequency magnetic fields, the MT level significantly decreases.
Now let’s take a closer look at the effect of melatonin on various processes in our body.
MT and oncology
The issue of cancer is one of the most pressing in our society. This applies to both medical and biological professionals and the common man. Today there are practically no people who are not familiar with the concept of “cancer”. Therefore, people are closely monitoring research and reports of progress on this thorny path. Research on MT as an anti-cancer agent has been conducted since 1929. Then E. Georgiou suggested that pineal gland may influence the growth and spread of malignant tumors. Towards the end of 1977, the Austrian oncologist V. Lapin organized and conducted a symposium dedicated to such influence. Its name was promising: “Pineal gland - new approach to the mechanism of neuroendocrine effects in cancer.” It systematized the data obtained by this time. And from this moment we can mark the beginning of serious in-depth studies of the role of melatonin in neoplastic processes.
This role has been studied in various models of cancer, using a variety of experimental methods. E. Georgiou's initial opinion was that the pineal gland stimulates the growth of tumors. However, it was refuted. Moreover, it turned out that actions that activate it, or the introduction of external MT, lead to a decrease in the incidence and growth of tumors. Conversely, removing the gland increases the incidence of cancer. Today this is generally accepted.
Thus, we can draw an obvious conclusion: the pineal gland and MT are one of the barriers to our anti-cancer defense.
I will not provide data on the specific effect of MT on various growth mechanisms, specific receptors and signals. They can be read in specialized literature. However, it is worth giving a brief summary of its specific effects:
reduces the viability of breast tumor cells (MCF7)
significantly prevents the development of melanoma
reduction in the proliferative activity of cancer cells in general
increase in the number of their apoptosis
reduction of metastasis
suppression of tumor growth by increasing cell adhesion
MT and aging
Melatonin production has age characteristics. It has been reliably established that its production by the pineal gland steadily decreases with increasing age. These data were obtained from both animal and human populations. It is generally accepted that this is characteristic of all mammals.
The level of MT in the body begins to fluctuate from the moment of puberty, as a result of the physiological mechanisms of reproductive maturation. After reaching adulthood, nocturnal concentrations gradually decrease, to the point that in older people the pineal gland stops increasing nocturnal melatonin synthesis at all. Their average daily level is approximately 50% lower than that of young people. However, one should not assume that it is invariably low. Among 70-90 year olds, 14% even have it increased relative to their normal daily level.
It is believed that this decrease occurs due to the deposition of calcium in the pineal gland in place of its atrophied cells. With age, these deposits increase in number and size.
In general, the rate of decrease in melatonin production in the body is not catastrophic, decreasing by 20-30% in the elderly compared to young people. This indicates that extrapineal sources of melatonin (located outside the gland) play an important role in the formation of general hormonal status and the regulation of many physiological processes.
The most severe degenerative process in aging diseases is Alzheimer's disease. It manifests itself in progressive memory loss, leading to dementia and death. More than 20 million people in the world suffer from it. In recent years, the dominant concept of the onset of Alzheimer's disease due to oxidative damage through β-amyloid and subsequent neuronal apoptosis has been considered dominant. Moreover, the nervous system itself is very susceptible to oxidative stress: the brain, making up only 2% of body weight, consumes 20% of oxygen.
In this vein, much attention has been paid to the role of melatonin as an agent capable of preventing apoptosis and quenching free radicals. In general, MT, as a potential means of combating neurodegenerative diseases, is of interest for the following reasons:
Its endogenous (internal) production decreases with age, which coincides with the onset of many neurodegenerative processes
It easily penetrates the blood-brain barrier and is found in high concentrations in the brain after exogenous administration.
It is a ubiquitous antioxidant whose activity is neurological diseases very high (based on model studies)
Thus, melatonin is directly involved in the aging process and is a powerful potential marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of age-related diseases, primarily cancer and degenerative diseases.
External sources of melatonin
and their role in metabolism
Identification of the MT molecule stimulated research interest in physiology pineal gland. The very wide range of action of the hormone and its required calculated amount have cast doubt on the role of only one organ in the synthesis of melatonin. The history of the discovery of extrapineal MT synthesis is directly related to the concept of diffuse neuro endocrine system, which combines neuroendocrine cells capable of synthesizing biogenic amines and peptides scattered throughout the body. This assumption was made a long time ago, but was confirmed only in 1969 by researcher A. Pearse. It has been shown that many cells of various types are able to absorb monoamine precursors (5-OH-tryptophan, L-2OH-phenylalanine) with their subsequent decarboxylation and synthesis of biogenic amines. These cells are called APUD cells (an acronym for Amine Precursor Uptake and Decarboxylation). Currently, more than 100 such cells have been found.
This data goes beyond traditional approach to the relationship between the nervous and endocrine systems. Every day there is more and more evidence that the basis of bioregulation lies in the close coordinated functional interaction between the endocrine and nervous systems, based on the general type of receiving and transferring information at all levels. (emphasis is ours, editor's note)
Melatonin is one of the substances that participate in this metabolism. Its sources are scattered throughout the body. As a physiological signal, it coordinates the mechanisms of homeostasis and maintains its constancy.
It was first discovered in the Harderian gland and the retina of the eye. Then, taking into account the data on the high content of MT precursors in the EC cells of the intestine, N. T. Raikhlin and I. M. Kvetnoy first suggested the possibility of melatonin production by these cells and carried out its experimental identification. Moreover, it was precisely the fact of the presence of the process of MT synthesis, and not its passive accumulation, that was confirmed. A key enzyme for melatonin synthesis, GIOMT, was discovered in the intestine.
Conducted mathematical analysis suggests that the total number of EC cells in the intestine is significantly greater than that of pineal gland cells. The fact that EC cells contain 95% of the serotonin deposited in the body, the main precursor of MT, allows us to consider them as the main source of melatonin in the body of humans and animals.
In general, within the DNES (diffuse neuroendocrine system), two types of MT-producing units are distinguished: central and peripheral. The central cells include the cells of the pineal gland and visual system, secretion in which coincides with the “light-dark” rhythm. To the peripheral - everyone else.
MT-producing cells have been found not only in the gastrointestinal tract, but also in other places. Modern research data gives us the following picture of its production outside the pineal gland:
In endocrine cells: gastrointestinal tract, lungs, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, adrenal glands, thyroid gland, ovaries, endometrium, placenta, prostate, inner ear;
In non-endocrine cells: Harderian gland, thymus, pancreas, carotid body, cerebellum, retina, mast cells, natural killer (NK) cells, eosinophils, platelets, endothelial cells.
For those who are confused by complex medical and biological definitions, we can say briefly - this is almost everywhere.
It was already said above that despite the majority of the effects that APUD-gene melatonin produces, their mechanism remains practically unexplored. However, there is some data. Firstly, MT is an active endogenous antioxidant. Its action is more effective than that of such a well-known molecule as glutathione. Particularly large numbers of MT-producing cells are found in places where the level of free radical damage is very high, due to the production of a large number of their own endogenous SRs. For example, the hypothesis that melatonin protects the Harderian glands from free radical damage induced by porphyrins (a product of these glands) is supported by the fact that in Syrian hamsters the MT content of the glands is strictly correlated with the porphyrin content.
Taking into account the large number of MT-producing cells in many organs, the wide spectrum of activity, as well as the main property of regulating biological rhythms, melatonin can be considered a paracrine signaling molecule that locally coordinates cellular functions and intercellular connections. To an inexperienced reader, this sentence may seem too complicated, but, nevertheless, it contains the entire importance of the issue under consideration. Translated into everyday language, we can cite the army as an example. It has generals, officers, soldiers, cooks, drivers, pilots, etc. Melatonin plays the role of signalman in this army. He constantly, without any rest or rest, carries commands from generals to officers, from officers to soldiers, and also returns reports from soldiers to officers, and from officers to generals. Not to mention the orders for other workers and employees. Communication is one of the foundations of the army. The more accurately and earlier the command is transmitted, the greater the likelihood of this happening. that the army will win the battle. The same is true for our body in its constant battle with the environment. Once melatonin levels drop, we begin to lose.
Brief overview of other functions
Here I will give a very short, statement-level overview of the remaining functions of melatonin in the human body. This information is of little use in everyday life and is of interest to specialists. But if you are curious, you are welcome. Perhaps this data will prompt you to investigate the problem further.
The opinion about the inhibitory effect of the pineal gland on reproductive function was expressed even before the discovery of melatonin as a hormone. In 1898, Heubner described a 4-year-old boy with a tumor of the pineal gland and precocious puberty. The inhibitory role of MTs has been well studied for animals of various species. A delay in spontaneous opening, a decrease in ovarian volume, and a decrease in the frequency of the estrous cycle in female rats have been described. The inhibitory effect of MT on testosterone production has been shown. In recent years, MT is not considered as a strictly antigonadotropic agent. It is regarded rather as a hormonal messenger that modulates the activity of various systems, incl. and reproductive, depending on the photoperiodic environment.
Here I want to put forward one rather interesting hypothesis. Returning to E. Revici’s theory of evolution, we can say that melatonin provided us with a period of extended childhood, whose importance in the development and formation of our culture is simply invaluable. This is evident in the fact that when an object reaches a certain hierarchical level at which it is possible to acquire the ability to think, the rational use of the already existing complementary substance occurs in order to consolidate the boundary formation separating man from the cosmos, namely the technosphere.
There is also a large number of studies indicating the stimulating role of MT in the functioning of the immune system - it has been shown that it stimulates the production of cytokines and interferon, and enhances the cytotoxic function of natural killer cells (NK cells).
In addition to hormonal effects, MT, like other biogenic amines, has a neurotransmitter effect. It ensures the excitability of postsynaptic membranes and is involved in the conduction of nerve impulses. This function of biogenic amines is important for the activity nervous system- from providing visceral effects, to integrative functions such as behavior, memory, and learning.
It is well known that in the early stages of embryogenesis, biogenic amines play the role of specialized signaling molecules that regulate the processes of cellular renewal. MT is capable of suppressing cell proliferation and is as potent as colchicine, a potent cytotoxic agent used in cancer therapy.
Therapeutic Strategies
At the beginning of this section, we summarize the main results. So, what is vital for us to know about melatonin:
This is the most important agent responsible for the body as a whole. Violations in the amount of its production and its timing are an indicator of serious problems.
MT is produced during night sleep in complete darkness.
With typical aging, the production of your own melatonin decreases by at least a third.
Melatonin is produced MOST by the intestines than by the pineal gland in the brain.
Melatonin is a powerful protective agent against cancer and diseases of an oxidative nature (for example, many arthritis and atherosclerosis).
Melatonin is responsible for the body's overall ability to adapt to change.
And we will draw the following conclusions from these results, in order of importance:
A disease in itself is very rarely a very precisely localized disorder of a separate transmission or production system of the body. Basically, such diseases are genetic in nature and are extremely rare. On the contrary, illness is a complex phenomenon; during illness, many links in our relationship with the environment are lost.
Therefore, any single substance cannot be considered a panacea or a leading cure. It is necessary to restore in reverse order the entire chain of violations, which requires, firstly, a clear understanding of the work of the body, and secondly, a host of various agents prescribed with precision. Moreover, the same disease different people may have a completely different picture of internal metabolic and signaling disorders, and, accordingly, diametrically opposed treatment regimens. When correcting such violations and preventing them, the body itself will automatically restore MT levels, which makes it unnecessary to introduce it from the outside.
But, in cases where such therapy is impossible for various reasons, the introduction of exogenous melatonin can significantly help. This is especially indicated for cancer patients. Such support provides a full range positive effects on the general state of homeostasis, allowing to accurately localize foci of disturbances, and allow both protective forces the body and the administered medicinal substances to work specifically with the problem, instead of overcoming cascades of broken connections. Simply put, melatonin is like a road map for the body and medications. BUT YOU SHOULD REMEMBER: melatonin can accelerate the growth and development of some tumors!!!
Returning to aging, we can safely say that everyone after 50 years of age is recommended to take a course of MT 1-2 times a year. Especially if there are symptoms of certain aging diseases. Naturally, taking into account the above instructions.
Also, moderate physical activity is recommended for sick and elderly people whenever possible and does not aggravate existing problems. Movement is the key to maintaining a stable MT level!!!
Anyone who constantly moves QUICKLY between time zones and over long distances simply MUST have certain MT drugs with them to compensate for the desynchronoses that arise. This is especially true for pilots and flight attendants working in electromagnetic fields of varying strengths.
From the question about melatonin and the intestines, another confirmation of the immutable empirical postulate, tested for MILLENNIUMS, follows: our health is, first of all, the health of our intestines. The presented material contains one of many theoretical and experimental confirmations of this. At the same time, I would like to separately note this fact - melatonin is produced from tryptophan, an amino acid. Where are the most amino acids? That's right - in meat. Especially accessible - in lean meat, the absorption of which is much less energy-consuming for the intestines than, for example, legumes, soy, or other plant foods. Feel free to say hello to vegetarians from big science. However, remember that we also need fiber from plant foods to maintain optimal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract - it is food for the bacteria that inhabit it.
Speaking about sleep, you can immediately clearly define the criteria for normal sleep:
lack of light sources
comfortable body position
transferring sexual relations to daytime
It is also worth thinking about minimizing the number of electrical appliances and the presence of physiologically correct lighting in the premises. Throw away all those newfangled fluorescent lamps. They will save you much less money than what you will subsequently spend on restoring your own health. The technosphere is becoming more complex much faster than our body can adapt. Thus, the increase in life expectancy, which was caused by the elimination of dangerous natural factors, can soon be offset by early mortality due to an ever-increasing number of various systemic pathologies. Strokes at the age of 20-25 are not uncommon today.
The most optimal melatonin preparations today are sprays made using liposomal delivery technology. You should be aware that melatonin preparations are STRICTLY CONTRAINDICATED in pregnant women and persons under the age of 25 years. At the age of 16 to 25, serious indications for use are required.
based on materials by Khavinson V.Kh.
Konovalova S.S.
et al.
The editors of the resource “adequate.INFO” provide the following information strictly for informational purposes; it can in no way serve as a recommendation or instruction in actions regarding one’s own health. We recommend using the services of specialists to obtain complete and reliable advice on any appointments.
Among the MT drugs available on the market in the form of dietary supplements, the following can be distinguished:
Source Naturals NUTRA SPRAY Melatonin
Life-FLO Melatonin Cream
Melatonin is registered as a drug in the Russian Federation; a pharmacopoeial monograph has been issued for the drug Melaxen. Group - adaptogens.
You can get acquainted (including INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, and interaction with other l/s) here.
Based on the biological activity of MT, the optimal regimen for most can be considered either situational, when doses of 1.5-2.5 mg are taken NOT SYSTEMICALLY CONSTANTLY as needed (insomnia, desynchronosis), or in a system of 2 courses per year for 2 months, 3 We skip a month, if there are appropriate indications, 1-1.5 mg.
Provides adequate sleep restoration of the human body, strengthens his health, increases efficiency. All life processes are subject to biorhythms. Sleep and wakefulness are a manifestation of circadian (daily) surges and declines in the physiological activity of the body.
Strong night sleep provides the hormone melatonin, which is also called the hormone of youth and longevity. If a person has no problems falling asleep, he sleeps in sufficient quantities, the body has a much greater chance of efficiently producing complex biochemical, synthetic reactions aimed at the full restoration of all structures.
Melatonin is the main hormone of the pineal gland, regulator of circadian rhythms. The sleep hormone has been known to the world since 1958; its discovery belongs to the American professor, Aaron Lerner.
Melatonin molecules are small and highly soluble in lipids, which allows them to easily penetrate cell membranes and influence many reactions, such as protein synthesis. In newborns, melatonin begins to be produced only at three months. Before that, they get it through their mother's milk. In the first years of a child’s life, the concentration of the hormone is maximum and gradually begins to decrease over the years.
During the day, the hormone of happiness is active, and with the arrival of darkness it is replaced by the hormone of sleep. There is a biochemical connection between melatonin and serotonin. From approximately 23:00 to 5:00 the highest concentration of the hormone in the body.
Hormone functions are not limited to just managing the processes of sleep and wakefulness. Its activity is manifested in providing other important functions; it has a healing effect on the body:
Such actions are provided endogenous melatonin(a hormone produced in the body). Pharmacologists, using knowledge about the therapeutic effect of the sleep hormone, have created drugs containing artificially synthesized (exogenous) melatonin. They are prescribed for the treatment of insomnia, chronic fatigue, migraines, and osteoporosis.
Such medications are used by blind people to normalize sleep. They are prescribed to children with serious developmental disabilities (autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation). Melatonin is used in complex therapy for those who have decided to quit smoking (the craving for nicotine is reduced). The hormone is prescribed to reduce side effects after chemotherapy.
With the onset of darkness, melatonin production begins, by 21:00 its growth is observed. This is a complex biochemical reaction that occurs in the pineal gland (pineal gland). During the day, a hormone is actively formed from the amino acid tryptophan. And at night, under the influence of special enzymes, the joy hormone turns into a sleep hormone. Thus, serotonin and melatonin are connected at the biochemical level.
These two hormones are necessary to ensure the functioning of the body. Melatonin is produced at night; from approximately 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., 70% of it is synthesized. daily amount hormone.
To avoid disrupting melatonin secretion and sleep, It is recommended to go to bed no later than 10 pm. In the period after 0 and before 4 o'clock you need to sleep in a dark room. If it is impossible to create absolute darkness, it is recommended to use a special eye mask and close the curtains tightly. If you need to stay awake during the active synthesis of a substance, it is better to create dim lighting in the room.
Melatonin is produced in the dark. The detrimental effect of lighting on hormone production.
There are products that catalyze the production of the hormone. The diet should contain foods rich in vitamins (especially B vitamins) and calcium. It is important to balance your intake of complex carbohydrates and proteins.
A normal concentration of melatonin ensures easy falling asleep and full sleep. deep sleep. In winter, in cloudy weather, when the amount of light is insufficient, the hormone has a depressing effect on the body. There is lethargy and drowsiness.
In Europe, the Life Extension Foundation conducts clinical trials with the use of melatonin in the treatment of cancer. The Foundation claims that cancer cells produce chemicals whose composition is similar to pineal gland hormones. If you influence them with a combination of thyroid hormones and melatonin, the body begins actively produce cells for immune defense.
To treat depression and prevent many mental disorders, it is enough to sleep or take medications that contain melatonin. It is also important to be in the sun during the daytime.
Mice of the same age, to which the cancer gene was introduced, were divided into 2 groups.
One part of the animals was kept in natural conditions, the group had daylight and darkness at night.
The second group was illuminated around the clock. After a while, the experimental mice from the second group began to develop malignant tumors. Studies were carried out on various indicators and it was revealed that:
Consequences of long-term melatonin deficiency:
Causes of lack of sleep hormone:
Symptoms of an excess of the hormone are:
Excess melatonin causes seasonal depression.
The daily norm of the sleep hormone in an adult is 30 mcg. Its concentration by one in the morning is 30 times higher than during the day. In order to provide this amount, eight hours of sleep is required. In the morning, the normal concentration of the hormone is 4-20 pg/ml, at night – up to 150 pg/ml.
The amount of melatonin in the body depends on age:
Melatonin does not decrease in centenarians
As a rule, analysis is carried out only by large medical institutions, as it is not a common laboratory test.
Biomaterial samples are taken at short intervals, recording the time of day. The analysis requires special preparation:
The sleep hormone melatonin does not accumulate. It is impossible to get enough sleep or compensate for the lack of sleep. Disruption of natural daily biorhythms leads to disruption of the synthesis of the substance, and this causes not only insomnia, but also exposes the body to the development of diseases.
Absence sunlight triggers the natural production of melatonin in the body for sleep, disrupting this process and disrupting an important human biological clock.
Melatonin is the main hormone of the pineal gland. This biologically active substance affects all systems in the human body.
The pineal gland is a small part of the brain that plays a huge role in harmonizing metabolic processes and activity of the nervous system. It connects the visual perception apparatus (retina) and every cell of the body.
The complex process of biological synthesis of melatonin occurs mainly in the pineal gland. The precursor to this hormone is the neurotransmitter serotonin.
A necessary condition for starting the chemical reaction of converting serotonin into melatonin is darkness.
Thus, the concentration of the hormone increases precisely after the end of daylight hours. Particularly significant levels of melatonin in the blood are recorded after midnight and before dawn. In winter, this period is longer than in summer for natural reasons.
The production of the hormone melatonin is a chemical signal from the pineal gland to all body systems that night has come.
As the sun sets, metabolism and activity of the central nervous system changes. In many ways, these changes occur due to the action of the pineal gland hormone melatonin.
Literally until the onset of the previous century, the only normal option for sleep and wakefulness was the natural following biological clock. People got up at dawn, worked actively during the day, and went to bed after sunset. Artificial lighting was used to a very limited extent. Staying awake after midnight and even more so before dawn was an absolutely rare occurrence.
IN modern world sleep and wakefulness are moving further away from natural biological rhythms. Night rest time has been reduced to a minimum. Many work schedules generally require active wakefulness after midnight and sleep only in the morning and afternoon hours.
Unfortunately, such abnormal sleep and wakefulness schedules for the human body negatively affect the overall health and function of the central nervous system.
Melatonin is practically not produced in the pineal gland during the day, even during sleep. His lack of concentration prevents him from having a good rest both physically and psychologically.
Low levels of melatonin disrupt the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, adversely affect memory and learning processes, and metabolism.
In the pineal gland, with the onset of darkness, blood flow is activated. This gland takes on the role of leader in the endocrine system during rest. Its main hormone melatonin regulates all body processes during night sleep.
Hormone functions:
Melatonin is one of the substances that induce sleep. Its drugs are used to treat some forms of insomnia.
In addition, this hormone is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants. Its action at night helps restore damaged cells and inhibit the aging process of the body.
The function of reducing blood glucose and cholesterol is necessary to prevent metabolic syndrome (a combination of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and atherosclerosis).
Melatonin prolongs lifespan. Scientists suggest that high concentrations of the hormone can promote longevity and good health even after 60–70 years.
The hormone prevents the appearance and growth of malignant tumors. This function is performed by influencing the synthesis of growth hormone, which in high concentrations contributes to the development of cancer.
It has been proven that melatonin is necessary for the normal course of psychological processes. Lack of the hormone provokes depression and anxiety.
The most effective measure to increase melatonin in the blood is the correct daily routine. Recommended:
If circumstances allow, then it is preferable to increase the hormone in this way. Return to natural rhythm sleep and wakefulness will have a positive effect on health and well-being within just a few days.
You can also increase melatonin with a special diet. The diet must include foods containing essential amino acids(tryptophan). It is especially important to supplement them with dinner.
Dishes that help increase melatonin concentrations:
In addition, the pharmaceutical industry today has agents that increase melatonin. Some of these medicines are registered as medicines, while others are considered dietary supplements.
Melatonin preparations are used to correct sleep disorders. For this purpose, they are prescribed in the evening for a course of up to several weeks.
In addition, melatonin is used for depression, low performance, decreased memory and intellectual function. The most widely prescribed tablets contain an artificial analogue of human melatonin.
Pineal gland hormones of animal origin have a similar effect. It is believed that such medications have a strong immunostimulating effect.
Any preparations of pineal gland hormones are quite serious means. They should be used only on the recommendation of the attending physician (therapist, endocrinologist, neurologist). During treatment, laboratory monitoring of basic body functions is necessary (blood tests for hormones, transaminases, lipids and glucose).
