GSE
Taking a MELATONIN Supplement
MELATONIN
FIRST - Prefer 5-HTP
supplementation to MELATONIN -
5-HTP is higher up the metabolic pathway for
MELATONIN , and allows
the body the option of converting to
MELATONIN on an as
needed basis. Also supplies mood beneficial
SEROTONIN along the way.
5-HTP ➔
SEROTONIN ➔
MELATONIN .
- Ensure sufficiency of the
B vitamins: B6, B12,
folic acid (B9) - which support enzymes in the conversion pathway from
5-HTP ➔
MELATONIN
5-HTP
MELATONIN
supplements are readily available over the counter
Supplemental dosage of MELATONIN -
Usually in the 1-3mg range and
always take at night before bedtime MELATONIN during the day
can reset your body clock, giving you the equivalent of jet lag, which could
make you drowsyand increase your
risk of accidents.
- Start low and build up - Start with 1
-1.5g MELATONIN daily, taken
2 hours or less before bedtime. If this is not effective, gradually increase the
dosage until an effective level is reached (up to 6 mg daily used for GERD -
more is not usually necessary).
- Chronic pain - 1.5mg is useful
- For sleep disorders/jet
lag -
1.5-3 mgs seems to be adequate dosage;
- For the elderly and those
with grave sleep disorders /diagnosed disease states -
3-6 mg is normally adequate.
MELATONIN
supplementation will ONLY produce a sedative effect when MELATONIN
levels are low
-
MELATONIN is
most effective for treating insomnia in the elderly - as
MELATONIN
production tends to decline with age.
- Unlike sedatives, MELATONIN induces and maintains sleep without
suppressing REM (dream) sleep - as suggested by
several studies.
MELATONIN
is
used by travelers to "reset their clocks" and combat jet-lag - restoring restful sleep patterns after flying across one or more time
zones.
MELATONIN
Safety Studies - studies of
MELATONIN 's safety are limited; isolated reports have indicated exacerbating
depression, fatigue and coronary artery restriction;
High-dose MELATONIN
supplementation can disrupt the normal circadian rhythm -
In one study,
a daily dosage of 8 mg / day for 4 days resulted in significant alterations in
hormone secretions;
Certain people should not take
MELATONIN :
- Women who are pregnant,
trying to conceive or nursing - Large doses of
MELATONIN may prevent
ovulation. The hormone has not been tested for effects on the fetus.
MELATONIN can be found in
breast milk and the effect of large doses on nursing babies is unknown.
- People with immune system
disorders - such as severe
allergies, autoimmune diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis) or immune-system
cancers (like lymphoma). High doses of
MELATONIN may stimulate the
immune system and may worsen such conditions.
- Children and those under
40 -
since
children naturally produce high levels of
MELATONIN , and production
declines most rapidly only after age 40.
- People with severe mental
illness -
high daytime doses have worsened the symptoms of some patients.
- Those taking medication
should consult with a physician -
to check interactions
• Steroid medications -
MELATONIN may
counteract the effects of the drugs
• People taking monoamine oxidase (MAO)
inhibitors
-
current MELATONIN supplements may be contaminated by vasoactive amines.
- Those who are concerned
about lowering their natural production of
estrogen ,
TESTOSTERONE
and thyroid hormones -
which high doses of
MELATONIN will do.
(Edited from Priorities Vol. 7, No. 4, 1995)
MELATONIN Toxicology
MELATONIN
is water soluble and excess is excreted in the urine
MELATONIN
has a very low toxicity in rats - Rat maternal toxicity: the no observable
adverse effect level (NOAEL ) and lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL ) were 100 and
200mg/kg/day, respectively, and the
developmental toxicity NOAEL was >=
200mg/kg/day .
