Posted on 05/10/2023 12:06:57 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
An article shows that melatonin, despite its antioxidant effects and role in regulating sleep cycles, can worsen inflammation of the intestine and impair the action of gut microbiota.
Melatonin is popularly known as the "sleep hormone" and is often taken as a so-called food supplement without a doctor's prescription by people with sleep problems.
"It's generally thought to be harmless. However, our study shows that the ingestion of melatonin supplement can have adverse effects on health," said Cristina Ribeiro de Barros Cardoso.
Melatonin can act as an antioxidant and improve several physiological or pathological conditions. "We started out in this study with the assumption that we might be able to develop a novel treatment for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, but to our surprise, we found exactly the opposite, and patients should be made aware of this danger," she said.
The study involved an experiment in which colitis was induced in mice, and they were treated with melatonin. Their condition became worse instead of improving. "The animals' bowel inflammation became much, much worse," Cardoso said.
"We then began trying to understand why. We found that melatonin had a positive effect on the disease if the effect on gut microbiota was ignored and the mice were treated with wide-spectrum antibiotics to eliminate all the bacteria."
The negative effect of melatonin, therefore, depends on the bacteria that live in the intestine and are also associated with inflammatory diseases of the region. Certain features of gut microbiota increase inflammation and dysregulate the immune system in response to treatment with melatonin, damaging the digestive system.
"We should take great care with medications, hormone supplements or hormones offered as food supplements. It's a hormone, and regulation of the interaction between all hormones and the immune system is very delicate," Cardoso said.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Wow, now THAT is news I can use! I don’t take melatonin, but who knew?
I certainly won’t take anything that’s gonna make my colitis worse.
I’m currently doing a course of prednisone along w/my regular prescription.
Thanks for the info!
Dang! I’ve been using a small dose of melatonin before bed for a few weeks, and it REALLY has helped me sleep.
This study mentions issues re colitis. I wonder if it impacts the urinary tract, too, that would make UTIs an issue.
If someone has colitis, it is likely their bowel bacteria are messed up or missing.
Oh yes. Ambien is much better for you.
These pharma shills are so transparent.
Study only done with mice. Might or might not be valid with humans.
Common sense says that anything like this is probably best when only used as needed.
I was diagnosed with UC 29 years ago. It’s already cost me my original liver.
Autoimmune diseases abound in me..
Just last night I decided to cutback from 12mg to 3mg for other reasons.
But regarding the effect on lower GI microbiome and symptoms, I was at one time practically disabled with non-ulcerative colitis, but the disorder spontaneously disappeared about 25 years ago and has not re-surfaced while using melatonin.
“If someone has colitis, it is likely their bowel bacteria are messed up or missing.”
Not necessarily. That is a too broad of a generalization. Colitis can also be caused by CNS activation (”nerves”) and various inflammatory syndromes from microglia releasing inflammatory chemicals on up.
Maybe because I also take probiotics and fish oil, but I never have any "issues" w gut or colitis.
—> CNS activation (”nerves”) and various inflammatory syndromes from microglia releasing inflammatory chemicals
I could theorize how each of those could be activated by poor flora.
I have no gut problems. Been having probiotic filled yogurt with fruit for dessert every night for years. Plus, I drink Kombucha every night before dinner instead of wine. Kombucha is the best source of probiotics. I like the Mojita flavor, slightly tart like a real Mohita. What’s not to like?
I use melatonin almost every night too, found a nice timed-release brand and don’t take a high does, but then, I’m a small woman.
My microbiome is dandy as I eat yogurt for dessert every night and have a glass of Kombucha before dinner instead of wine. Kombucha is the best source of probiotics and comes in many flavors.
Eat enough probiotic yogurt to offset the side effects.
I retired five years ago. When I was working, my anxiety levels were off the charts and interfering with sleep. My doc recommended Melatonin probably 15 years ago. I started off with 2 mg which helped and I bumped it up to 5 mg time-release when COVID hit. I’m still on 5 mg nightly. No effects on GI issues that I’m aware of.
No probiotics or kombucha, but I do take Nigella Sativa (black seed oil) plus Krill Oil (Omega 3) every morning. I started the Krill Oil about a month ago. Started the Nigella Sativa when the FLCCC recommended it if you couldn’t get Ivermectin. Since then, they’ve taken that recommendation down.
Between NAC, Vit D, Vit C, Quercetin, Melatonin, zinc, and the two oils, I went four years without a cold. Then one set in 16 days ago and I’m just recovering with a nagging cough. That is the longest stretch I’ve had without a cold in like forever.
I take Lifeway-brand Kefir two or three times a year if I think I’m having problems down there. Thank you for commenting to me.
(I might vote for a little pre-dinner wine as well, but that's just moi)
Antibiotics are what throw the gut bacteria out of whack! To get the gut back in balance, I eat prebiotic yogurt or kefir.
Doctors typically prescribe antibiotics for gut problems and UTI’s, but antibiotics ALWAYS worsen the problem!
As for melatonin, I’ve always heard you shouldn’t take it longer than 2 or 3 nights in a row, to get your circadian sleep rhythms back on track..
Your brain normally produces its own melatonin, which should naturally shut down when the sun comes up, to be replaced by natural serotonin.
If my rhythm is “off” I’ve found that a small dose of melatonin (3 or 6 mg) for 2 or 3 nights can get me back in the habit of falling asleep at my regular bedtime.
But if you take the melotonin supplement every night, it builds up in your body. The result will be daytime sluggishness and/or depression.
Lately I find I don’t even need the melatonin if I wear a blackout eye mask to bed.
Mask on= total darkness= mind shuts down= I’m out in a couple of minutes. Deep, restful sleep.
bump
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