Melatonin: Beyond Sleep

Even though melatonin is thought of as a "sleep aid," it has many actions in the body that support immunity, control inflammation, and fight oxidative stress.

Although a significant amount of melatonin is produced in the brain's pineal gland, quite a bit is produced throughout the gastrointestinal tract. But beyond the brain and gut, melatonin is found just about everywhere in the body, including the skin, thyroid, and reproductive organs.

Many factors can affect melatonin production, including overexposure to light at night, especially blue light, nightshift work, jetlag, stress, diet, medications, lifestyle, illness, and genetics.

Some melatonin can be found in foods, especially plant-based foods. However, individualized supplementation may be indicated for melatonin repletion.

CLICK HERE for a deeper dive into Melatonin as the ODX research team presents some intriguing facts about this multipurpose molecule from an excellent article in the journal Nutrients authored by Dr. Deanna Minich entitled “Is Melatonin the "Next Vitamin D"?: A Review of Emerging Science, Clinical Uses, Safety, and Dietary Supplements.” (Minich 2022)

References

Minich, Deanna M et al. “Is Melatonin the "Next Vitamin D"?: A Review of Emerging Science, Clinical Uses, Safety, and Dietary Supplements.” Nutrients vol. 14,19 3934. 22 Sep. 2022, doi:10.3390/nu14193934
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