I am a doctor who has been practicing clinical practice for many years, and I am often asked questions about melatonin by patients. Today, I want to share some knowledge about melatonin as not just other medical uses to help with sleep, and how it works in our daily lives.
In my career as a neurologist, I met a middle-aged female patient who came to me for consultation because of long-term insomnia. In addition to having trouble falling asleep at night, she also felt low energy and irritability during the day. After a series of check-ups, I recommended that she take a small dose of melatonin after dinner and adjust her body clock with proper bedtime habits. A few weeks later, she was pleasantly surprised to tell me that not only had her sleep improved significantly, but she also felt more stable overall.
Melatonin's sleep aid
Melatonin is a natural hormone in our body, mainly secreted by the pineal gland, and its main function is to regulate our biological clock and sleep cycle. When the environment darkens and melatonin levels rise, our bodies begin to feel tired and ready to enter a state of rest at night. This natural mechanism is key to maintaining healthy sleep.
In my medical practice, I often encounter patients who have sleep problems due to a disturbed biological clock. For example, common problems include people who are affected by work shifts, time zone changes, or prolonged exposure to the light source of electronic screens. In these cases, exogenous melatonin supplementation can make a huge difference.
To use melatonin effectively, here are a few key usage recommendations:
Dose adjustment: Typically, the effective dose of melatonin varies from 0.5 mg to 5 mg, depending on the individual's response. Start with a lower dose and gradually increase as needed.
Time to take: To mimic the natural melatonin production cycle, melatonin should be taken approximately 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime.
Continued use: Melatonin is suitable for short-term use, such as to adjust for jet lag or to improve transient sleep disturbances. Long-term dependence may require further evaluation and guidance from a doctor.
Neuroprotective effects of melatonin
Melatonin not only plays a role in regulating sleep, it has also shown significant potential in neuroprotection. Its mechanism protects the nervous system from various chronic diseases and age-related damages, mainly through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Antioxidant effect
Melatonin is a powerful free radical scavenger that effectively neutralizes a variety of harmful oxidants that are the main cause of neuronal damage in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. By reducing oxidative stress, melatonin helps maintain the structure and function of nerve cells and slows down the progression of pathological changes.
Anti-inflammatory effect
The inflammatory response plays a key role in the development of a variety of neurological diseases. Melatonin is able to regulate the production of a variety of inflammatory mediators, thereby reducing inflammatory damage to nerve tissue. This role is particularly important for controlling inflammatory responses such as multiple sclerosis and brain injury.
Examples of clinical applications
In my clinical experience, I have met an elderly patient with mild cognitive impairment. After a comprehensive assessment of his condition, I decided to join melatonin therapy, which aimed to slow the progression of his symptoms. After months of follow-up, the patient's family reported an improvement in his memory and daily living skills, and while this improvement was gradual, it was a great relief for the patient and family.
Melatonin's anti-cancer potential
The role of melatonin in anti-cancer research is gradually gaining attention. Its anti-cancer effects are achieved by regulating the immune response, inhibiting tumor growth, and preventing cancer cells from spreading. Let's dive into how melatonin plays an important role in cancer treatment.
Immune-boosting effect
Melatonin can enhance the body's immune function, especially in enhancing the activity of natural killer cells (NK cells). These cells play a key role in identifying and destroying cancer cells. By boosting the activity of these cells, melatonin helps the body's natural defense system fight cancer more effectively.
Inhibits tumor growth
Studies have shown that melatonin has a direct impact on the growth and metabolism of tumor cells. It inhibits the proliferation of tumor cells by interfering with key stages of their cycle. In addition, melatonin regulates the expression of a variety of growth factors and cytokines, thereby slowing the spread of tumors.
Prevents cancer cells from metastasizing
Metastasis of cancer is one of the major challenges in cancer treatment. Melatonin has shown potential in stopping cancer cells from spreading from the primary site to other parts of the body. It reduces the aggressiveness and metastasis potential of cancer cells by affecting the expression of cell adhesion factors and metastasis-related proteins.
Clinical case sharing
In my career, I have met a patient who was being treated for breast cancer. In addition to standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy, we also decided to add melatonin as adjuvant therapy. After several months of treatment, her condition was stable and the side effects were mild, thanks in large part to the addition of melatonin. Her case is a vivid illustration of melatonin's anti-cancer potential.