Melatonin

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Melatonin
5-methoxy-N-acetyltryptamine
Empiric formula	C₁₃H₁₆N₂O₂
Molecular weight	232.28
Bioavailability	30 - 50%
Metabolism	Liver
Elimination half life	32 - 40 minutes
Excretion	Urine
Pregnancy category	?
Delivery	1mg, 2.5mg, 3mg, and 5mg capsules; 1mg/mL or 1mg/4mL liquid; .5mg and 3mg lozenges; 2.5mg sublingual tablets; 1mg, 2mg, and 3mg timed-release tablets
Indicated for: insomnia jet lag sleep disorders

Melatonin, or 5-methoxy-N-acetyl tryptamine, is a hormone produced by pinealocytes in the pineal gland, located in the center of the brain. It is a derivative of the amino acid tryptophan.

Melatonin helps regulate sleep-wake or circadian rhythms. Normally, production of melatonin by the pineal gland is stimulated by darkness and inhibited by light. Nobel Prize laurate Julius Axelrod performed many of the seminal experiments elucidating the role of melatonin and the pineal gland in circadian rhythms.

In recent times, melatonin has become available as a drug and a dietary supplement. It appears to have some use against insomnia and jet lag. It has been studied for the treatment of cancer, immune disorders, cardiovascular diseases, depression, seasonal affective disorder, and sexual dysfunction; no apparent benefit in these has been found.

To synthesize melatonin, serotonin is converted to N-acetylserotonin by the enzyme 5-HT N-acetyltransferase. N-acetylserotonin is then converted to melatonin by the enzyme 5-hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase. See serotonin for details on how tryptophan is converted to serotonin.

Evidence shows that melatonin can be responsible for vivid dreaming. This may be because melatonin releases naturally produced dimethyltryptamine from the pineal gland.

Melatonin has been shown to increase the lifespan of mice by 20% in some studies [1] [2] [3] [4].

Warning: USE ONLY AT BEDTIME. For adult use only. Not for use by children, teenagers, or pregnant or lactating women. If you are under medical supervision, or have an auto-immune disease, diabetes, a depressive disorder, epilepsy, leukemia or a lymphoproliferative disorder, or are taking MAO inhibitor drugs or corticosteroids such as cortisol or prednisone, consult a physician before taking this product.

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