Health Benefits and Side Effects of Melatonin Supplements

Melatonin is a natural chemical secreted in the brain with the assistance of the pineal gland in dark conditions. It is a hormone that helps to regulate and maintain the sleep cycle in the body. 

Melatonin is a hormone produced by plants and animals. It is produced in the brain and secreted by the pineal gland at night. As discovered by Aron Lerner, Melatonin is responsible for the sleep and wake-up cycle in the body. Exposure to light at night can block Melatonin production and result in sleeping problems leading to insomnia. 

Also found in plants, Melatonin is responsible for seed germination, root and shoot growth, fruit ripening, and flowering time. To fulfill the melatonin requirement of the body, people take Melatonin dietary supplements, either animal-derived or made synthetically. Melatonin is beneficial for the body beyond sleep.

Some of the benefits of Melatonin supplements are:

Responsible for regulating the biological clock or circadian rhythm. It is a popular dietary supplement to treat problems related to sleep disorders and insomnia. Research has proven that taking Melatonin improves sleep quality.

Effective in reducing the prolonged effect of Tinnitus up to some extent. Tinnitus is a chronic disease that causes a ringing sound in the ear by compressing the external sound. It is an incurable disease. Researchers have found that taking Melatonin for a month can improve the sleep quality of Tinnitus patients.

Melatonin is high in antioxidants and might reduce eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration most common in people aged 65 years or more. Most researchers found that Melatonin helps to protect the retina and reduces oxidative stress from the unstable molecules that can affect the tissues. 

Having high antioxidant properties, Melatonin has a great potential to strengthen the immune system. It helps to stimulate the immune system to fight bacterial infections. It acts as an anti-inflammatory compound during acute inflammation. 

It helps to fix jet-lag sleep problems. Jet lag is a sleep disorder caused due to the slow adjustment of the circadian rhythm while traveling along different time zones. It is a temporary disorder that causes an imbalance in the sleep-wake-up cycle to unsuitable surroundings. However, the intake of Melatonin supplements is effective in getting sound sleep and resetting the sleep cycle. 

Melatonin supplements are often beneficial and improve female reproductive health. They help to regulate the timing and duration of the release of female hormones and the frequency of the menstrual cycle. It helps in improving sleep quality during peri-menopausal and menopausal stages in women.

Autism, it is a developmental disability caused due to differences in the brain. Studies show that autistic people cannot produce Melatonin in sufficient amounts and hence suffer from sleep problems. Taking Melatonin can benefit them to overcome such sleep disorders. However, the amount and dosage should be determined by the healthcare giver.

Side-effects of Melatonin supplements

Apart from the beneficial properties of Melatonin, there are severe side effects caused by the consumption of Melatonin. Some of the side effects that are commonly faced are:

• Nausea
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Agitation
• Headaches
• Nightmares
• Temporary hangover
• Bed-wetting in kids

Conclusion

Melatonin comes in several different forms, available in a doses ranging from 1 to 10 mg. However, there are no official guidelines for its dosage. Due to a lack of sufficient research, it is not yet concluded whether taking Melatonin for a long time is safe or not.

References:

6 Benefits of Melatonin, retrieved from Natures Velvet. https://www.naturesvelvet.in/blogs/blog-posts/6-benefits-of-melatonin

Melatonin: What You Need To Know, retrieved from National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/melatonin-what-you-need-to-know

Top 5 Incredible Benefits of Melatonin, retrieved from Atlanova. https://atlanova.com/top-5-incredible-melatonin-benefits-melatonin-supplement

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