what does melatonin do?

Answer 1

its a sleep hormone

Answer 2

Melatonin is a hormone with very strong antioxidant properties. As an antioxidant, it's linked with the protection of DNA in the cell nucleus and mitochondria.

The most famous role of melatonin is that it's part of the system that regulates the circadian cycle, your brain's daily clock. The melatonin released directly into your bloodstream is primarily made by the pineal gland in your brain. Sunight inhibits this production of melatonin, darkness allows it. Higher concentrations of melatonin in the blood cause drowsiness... this is why you get sleepy when it's dark, in short.

The antioxidant properties may also be a factor in cancer prevention. There's a higher concentration of cancer in night workers than day workers, suggesting that being awake at night (under artificial light) and sleeping in the day (in imperfect darkness) is reducing the concentrations of melatonin in the bloodstream, reducing the anti-cancer effect.

Melatonin has also been linked to dreaming... high doses of melatonin increase REM sleep, and the reported vividness of the user's dreams.

For the Thanksgiving season, it's good to know that melatonin is directly synthesized from tryptophan, an amino acid that's found in abundance in turkey meat (though only slightly higher than the concentrations in chicken, beef, or pork, and less than you'll find in cheddar cheese)... this is credited for why people fall asleep after the feast. Well, that, and just basic overeating :-)

Answer 3

Melatonin is a naturaly occuring substance in the body. It is safe. Anything that you take to help you sleep may decrease the quality. I think that melatonin and/or a good lavender tea work the best and have the least effect on the quality of sleep.

Answer 4

It is linked to one of hormones of serotonin and supposely
produced by the pineal gland at the base of the brain, and it
is the only hormone supposely released into our bloodstream.
I am told it has to do with reproduction, aging, and our
sleep cycles.

Supposely its production begins in darkness, when you
sleeping at night. and light supposely inhibits it.

It is also been said that some species their retina produces
the melatonin by sending the brain a message its dark now.
But it has also been said that the melatonin produced by
the retina has the ability to be a form of cell signaling
thereby also having the ability to release certain chemical
signal synapses.

A few days ago a report came out that it could be harming
memory formation at night.

Said shouldn't be taken with someone taken histamines,
or antidepressants or serotonin inhibitors.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
what does melatonin do?

Answer 6

Simply put, Melatonin is what your body is supposed to produce at night to help you sleep. A 3mg dose is enough to help with sleep.

Answer 7

Dear Asker!
Here are some information about Melatonin.

GENERIC NAME: MELATONIN - ORAL

USES:
Melatonin has been used for sleep disorders (e.g., insomnia and jet lag). Some herbal/diet supplement products have been found to contain possibly harmful impurities/additives. Check with your pharmacist for more details regarding the particular brand you use. The FDA has not reviewed this product for safety or effectiveness. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

HOW TO USE:
Take this product by mouth generally 2 hours before bedtime. Results may be seen within 30 minutes. Follow all directions on the product package. If you are uncertain about any of the information, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Full benefit is usually seen after 1 to 3 days of use. If your condition persists or worsens or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.

SIDE EFFECTS:
Headache or altered sleep pattern may occur. If either of these effects persists or worsens, contact your doctor promptly. Unlikely but report promptly: mental or mood changes, itching, fast heartbeat, sensation of heaviness in the head. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

PRECAUTIONS:
If you have any of the following health problems, consult your doctor before using melatonin: disorders of immune system, liver or kidney disease, stroke, depression, epilepsy, diabetes. Limit alcohol intake, as it may aggravate certain side effects of this product. Caution is advised when performing tasks requiring alertness (e.g., driving). Liquid preparations of this product may contain sugar and/or alcohol. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, alcohol dependence or liver disease. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the safe use of this product. Melatonin is not recommended for use in children (under 20 years old). Do not use this product if you plan to become pregnant. It may have a contraceptive (birth control) effect. Melatonin is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using this product. It is not known if this product is excreted into breast milk. Because of the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this product is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription medications you may use, especially of: immunosuppressants (e.g., azathioprine, cyclosporine), corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone). Also report use of drugs that cause drowsiness such as: sleeping pills, anti-anxiety drugs, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), sedatives, psychiatric medicines, anti-seizure drugs, muscle relaxants, antihistamines that cause drowsiness (e.g., diphenhydramine), herbs that cause drowsiness (e.g., valerian, kava). Check all nonprescription medicine labels carefully, especially cough-and-cold preparations since many contain drowsiness-causing antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine). Consult your pharmacist if you are uncertain.

OVERDOSE:
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

NOTES:
If you are having surgery, notify your doctors you are taking this herbal product.

Hope that may help you!
Good luck!

Answer 8

Many common natural remedies are claimed to have blood sugar lowering properties that make them useful for people with or at high risk of diabetes. Learn here https://tr.im/DNhh9

A number of clinical studies have been carried out in recent years that show potential links between herbal therapies and improved blood glucose control, which has led to an increase in people with diabetes using these more 'natural' ingredients to help manage their condition.

Answer 9

I thought it was to do with pigmentatio of skin ?
But its sleep too

In higher animals, melatonin is produced by pinealocytes in the pineal gland (located in the brain) and also by the retina, lens and GI tract. It is naturally synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan (via synthesis of serotonin) by the enzyme 5-hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase.

Production of melatonin by the pineal gland is under the influence of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus which receives information from the retina about the daily pattern of light and darkness. This pattern that entrains both the SCN rhythmicity and melatonin production occurs through recently defined pathways of non visual light detection. Light reaches the SCN through a subpopulation of inner retinal ganglion cells (intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells which are photoreceptor cells distinct from those involved in the visual system). These cells represent approximately 2% of retinal ganglion cells and express the non-visual photopigment melanopsin (1). The sensitivity of melanopsin fits with that of a vitamin A-based photopigment with a peak sensitivity at 484 nm (blue) (2). This photoperiod cue entrains the circadian rhythm and the resultant production of specific “dark” and “ light” induced neural and endocrine signals regulates behavioral and physiological circadian rhythms ).[7]

However, melatonin may be produced by a variety of peripheral cells such as bone marrow cells (3,4), lymphocytes and epithelial cells. Usually, the melatonin concentration in these cells is much higher than that found in the blood but it does not seem to be regulated by the photoperiod.[8]

Melatonin is also synthesized by various plants, such as rice, and ingested melatonin has been shown to be capable of reaching and binding to melatonin binding sites in the brains of mammals
Many animals use the variation in duration and quantity of melatonin production in each day as a seasonal clock.[11] In seasonal breeders which do not have long gestation periods, and which mate during longer daylight hours, the melatonin signal controls the seasonal variation in their sexual physiology, and similar physiological effects can be induced by exogenous melatonin in animals including mynah birds[12] and hamsters.[13] Melatonin can suppress libido by inhibiting secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary gland, especially in mammals that have a breeding season when daylight hours are long. The reproduction of long-day breeders is repressed by melatonin and the reproduction of short-day breeders is stimulated by melatonin.

Melatonin is also related to the mechanism by which some amphibians and reptiles change the color of their skin

Answer 10

1

Answer 11

It is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the third ventricle of the brain, and is a derivative of serotonin which works to regulate the sleep cycle