![]() ![]() And it’s not just gastrointestinal cancers that can be helped by melatonin. ![]() The point is that melatonin can disrupt the process of cancer taking over the cells in our body. Melatonin can come to the aid of our DNA by reducing the damage – and assisting in its repair. Cancerous toxins (known as carcinogens) can damage the DNA in the cells of our body, and interfere with our DNA’s ability to repair itself. Melatonin is known as an anti-inflammatory. For example, inflammation of our gut can lead to cancer. There are a number of steps that change a healthy cell in our body to a cancerous one. So not only is melatonin prepared to protect the gut, but researchers have proposed that additional melatonin that we can swallow – eventually entering the gut – can help in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer. There has been significant recent interest in ‘gut health’, so you may be interested to know that the gut contains about 400 times the amount of melatonin than the pineal gland (i.e., the gland that secretes melatonin from our brain during the night). Another one of those things that can kill you in Australia (ie, the sun). They have labeled these skin cells as being pre-cancerous. As I write this blog, my skin specialists this week have been closely monitoring some skin cells on my lip. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that cancer is our 2 nd largest lethal disease, sadly taking approximately 10 million of us each year. ![]() Let’s now look at another condition that melatonin can help us humans fight – Cancer. Add melatonin to your treatment of cancer We are still trying to learn and research more on whether the use of melatonin in pregnant women may further protect children during birth. Researchers believe it is possible that melatonin may help the infant to deal with complications that may arise with their upcoming birth. But once the infant is born, they are on their own as they do not produce their own melatonin for many months. Medical researchers are determining not only the right – or ‘therapeutic dose’ – to prevent conditions (like brain injury), but also the most effective ways to administer melatonin to premature babies (eg, skin patch).īut the take-home point is that research has shown that high doses of melatonin provide life-saving properties for the most vulnerable human beings, at the most vulnerable time of their lives.įinally, melatonin is naturally supplied to infants in the womb by their mother from 24 weeks, and levels rise in the third trimester. Doses of up to 80 mg within the first 24 hours of life have been reported. Whilst we described that the maximum dose of 3mg of melatonin is required for sleep in our first blog in this series, the dosage differs when preventing serious diseases afflicting premature infants. Because the damage resulting from biological toxins from premature birth occurs quickly, medical researchers have administered melatonin within the first 24 hours of life. Unfortunately, oxidative stress can lead to a range of serious conditions for the infant, including brain injury, lung and gastrointestinal diseases, sepsis, and in some cases premature death. In simplistic terms, there are higher levels of toxins in their body, and the premature infant can lack the strong antioxidant defense system that other infants possess. When babies are born prematurely (i.e., less than 37 weeks), they may experience what’s called oxidative stress. Let’s start with one example that we alluded to in our previous blog: Melatonin can help premature babiesīeing born into this world takes its toll on the human body, especially if that little human is not yet ready. For example, when the human body undergoes significant stress, there is a build up of toxins in the body.īesides assisting with sleep and circadian timing, melatonin possesses a host of different ‘anti’ properties – which means if the body is in strife, melatonin can sometimes be something of an anti-dote, returning the body back to a healthier state. Over to you Mike! What else can melatonin be used for besides sleep?Īs you’ll learn in this blog, there is research supporting evidence for melatonin providing a range of benefits that go beyond sleep. In this 2 nd blog, Mike will demonstrate how melatonin can be used for an array of different issues – that are not sleep related. For example, how much melatonin to use? When to take it? From what age can one take it? How long does it take effect? And so on – check it out to get the full picture. In our 1 st blog, Sleep Cycle’s Head of Sleep Science, Prof Mike Gradisar, answered 20 common questions about melatonin – with particular focus on the numbers. Welcome to Sleep Cycle’s 2 nd blog in our 4-part series about melatonin and sleep. Sleep Cycle alarm clock > About Sleep > Sleep Science Melatonin series (2): What can melatonin be used for (besides sleep)? ![]()
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