Tag: hormones

What is Melatonin and what is it used for? 

Melatonin is a hormone that comes from the tiny pineal gland, which is found deep within the brain. The rate of production of melatonin and the timing of its release is based on the time of day; more released when it is nighttime and dark, less during the day when there is more light. Melatonin was first identified and isolated in the pineal gland of a cow and is also a key factor in the changes in skin color for some frogs and other reptiles and amphibians. But, as interesting as it may be, frog skin color changes will have to be left for another discussion.  

Traditions that revolve around spirituality and mysticism refer to this area of the brain as the “third eye” because of its connection to light. There is a belief that the metaphysical world is a connection point between the physical and non-physical (spiritual) levels.  

On a more practical level, melatonin is involved in the regulation of our circadian rhythm, or internal clock. The circadian rhythm controls when we are awake and when we sleep based on the cycle of hours of light and darkness in a 24-hour period. This is one of the reasons there has been so much written about the dangers of screen time at night. Exposure to light, including the seemingly limited amount coming from a smartphone, can interfere with the production of melatonin and throw off the sleep cycle. The amount of melatonin produced during the night is 10 times the amount produced during the day and nighttime levels remain elevated for about 12 hours. With aging, the pineal gland produces less melatonin and this decreased production accelerates after age 40. One cause of disrupted sleeping with aging is this reduction of nightly melatonin release.

What Exactly Does Melatonin Do?

Contrary to what many may believe, melatonin does not make you go to sleep. What happens is that as the evening hours progress and the level of light is decreased, melatonin levels rise and you become sleepy. The production of melatonin continues during the night. In fact, you produce as much as 10 times more during the night than during the day. This elevated amount of melatonin results in:

• Increased sleepiness
• Shortening of the time it takes to actually fall asleep
• Reduction of sleep interruptions or nighttime awakenings
• Counteracts fatigue developed during the day 

What Else Does Melatonin Regulate?

Melatonin regulates many processes besides sleep. It is one of the most potent antioxidants in nature, helping to protect the body from degeneration due to free radical damage (free radical damage can lead to cancer). Melatonin also decreases susceptibility to stress, strengthens the immune system, helps with jet lag and improves mood. Low melatonin levels have been linked to hypertension and reduced immunity.

Because melatonin is also a powerful naturally-occurring antioxidant, it also tackles issues other than those that are sleep-related, such as:

• Reduces damage from free radicals
• Reduces stress-related conditions
• Strengthens the immune system
• Reduces jet lag
• Stabilizes moods 

What About Melatonin Supplements?

In a perfect world, the pineal gland would just keep pumping out as much melatonin as we need for as long as we need it. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, we seem to be living beyond the time some of our systems were designed to function. Most older folks will report not being able to sleep the way they used to. This has a lot to do with the fact that the production of melatonin starts dramatically decreasing after we pass the age of 40. 

Are melatonin supplements a good choice? They can be. Melatonin supplements can be found in pill, liquid and chewable form and may be synthetically produced or come from pineal glands in animals. People take them mainly for insomnia, fatigue and jet lag. Research is being conducted to determine if melatonin may be effective with a variety of other issues, including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, ALS, high blood pressure at night and sleep issues for children with ASD (autism spectrum disorder).

Melatonin is considered to generally be safe, but there are possible side effects and negative interactions with certain types of medications. It is always important to consult with an experienced healthcare professional before taking melatonin or any other form of supplement. 

The Southern California Center for Anti-Aging focuses on the practice of advanced, preventive and regenerative medicine. We strongly believe correcting imbalances and deficiencies in nutrition, along with improving fitness and balancing and restoring hormones with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, can help with creating the foundation for a healthier and happier life. To learn more about our holistic approach or if you have questions about any of our services, take advantage of our Free Consultation by filling out our convenient online form below.

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How important is the sunshine vitamin to our general health?

Vitamin D is called “the sunshine vitamin” because it’s produced in the skin in response to sunlight. While we all learned in elementary school how important it is for developing strong bones and teeth, and most senior citizens are constantly reminded that they should take a vitamin D supplement (along with their calcium) to help prevent osteoporosis, vitamin D has many other important purposes.

Because of the complexity of substances (including vitamins, minerals, and hormones) that interact to make the body function at optimal levels, it is essential to have a board-certified physician who understands the myriad connections among them and who is able to administer the appropriate doses of each to keep your body in balance.

The Functions of Vitamin D

Apart from regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorous, which not only helps to prevent osteoporosis, but also the softening of bones (osteomalacia), vitamin D performs the following significant functions:

• Maintaining a normal immune system to help the body fight disease
• Fighting depression and anxiety, regulating moods
• Assisting in weight loss when taken with calcium
• Helping to prevent heart disease

Several studies have attested to these benefits of vitamin D. In addition, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2006 points to evidence suggesting that vitamin D reduces your risk of developing multiple sclerosis, and findings published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2010 attest to the fact that vitamin D reduces your likelihood of developing the flu. Another interesting research study demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency was discernibly more common in fibromyalgia patients who were experiencing anxiety and depression.

How the Body Gets the Vitamin D It Needs

As mentioned, exposure to sunlight is a significant source of vitamin D. Only a small amount of exposure, about 10 minutes of mid-day sun, is necessary for individuals with fair skin. Dark-skinned people require more time in the sun to produce sufficient vitamin D.
Some food sources also provide vitamin D naturally, such as salmon, sardines, egg yolks, and shrimp. Other foods, such as milk, cereal, orange juice and yogurt, are fortified with vitamin D to help meet our dietary needs.

Reasons for Vitamin D Deficiency

Many factors of modern life tend to deprive of us our necessary quota of vitamin D. For one thing, our depleted ozone layer puts us at increased risk of skin cancer, which has wisely prompted the extensive use of sunscreen. While protecting us from skin cancer, however, sunscreen decreases our absorption of vitamin D. Also, the modern tendency to spend more time indoors and in urban environments in which tall buildings block sunlight makes us more prone to vitamin D deficiency.

Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include:

• Fatigue, aches and pains, malaise
• Severe bone or muscle pain or weakness
• Stress fractures, especially in the legs, hips, or pelvis

If you are experiencing such symptoms, it is important to have a full work-up, including blood tests for vitamin D deficiency and other abnormalities in order to get an accurate diagnosis, especially since these symptoms may be linked to other underlying causes.  A knowledgeable clinician who works routinely to keep the body in balance for optimal health will be able to diagnose and treat any imbalances you may be suffering from.

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