Articles — melatonin

Melatonin is a compound formed in the pineal gland that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The release follows a circadian pattern, meaning there is a higher rate of release at night than during the day. It allows the body to follow the day and night schedule cycle. Melatonin supplements are used widely in the United States primarily as an aid for falling asleep and not waking up during the night. People with metabolic syndrome tend to have decreased melatonin levels although some studies have suggested that melatonin may alleviate some of the symptoms associated with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome, often...

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland that also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The release of melatonin follows a circadian pattern, meaning there is an increased rate of release at night compared to day time release. Melatonin helps initiating and maintaining sleep. For this reason, melatonin supplements are used widely in the United States primarily as an aid for falling asleep and not waking up during the night. In addition to being a sleep helper, melatonin supplements seem to improve metabolic syndrome, according to research. Metabolic syndrome is a definite risk factor for cancer, type II diabetes,...

It is no secret that most people are deprived of restful sleep. Work hours, a busy schedule, or an inability to fall asleep can all play a role in people not getting the right amount of sleep for the body to recover for the next day. Sleep deprivation, even minimal, can contribute to decreased alertness and performance, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, vulnerability to infection, depression, and anxiety. In a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, sleep loss was found to be a stressor that increased physiological stress perception. Sleep deprivation results in increased morning and...