How to 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 - 3 mg range and always take at night before bedtime. Taking 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 - 1.5 mg 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 - 1.5 mg 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.