Is melatonin good for sleep aid?
Can melatonin really help with better sleep? My answer is yes, but it may not be fit for everyone. Let me tell you why in detail.
What is melatonin and its effects
Melatonin was first discovered and named by US scientists in 1958. However, its existence can be traced back to the origin of life. After billions of years of evolution, melatonin has adapted to the competitive environment. It also exists in a wide variety of plant, animal and microbial in nature.
In the human body, melatonin is mainly a hormone produced by the pineal gland of the brain. It has the following properties:
1. The melatonin itself is a natural hormone present in the human body. Moreover, the exogenous melatonin is artificially produced and can be absorbed into the body for extra supplements.
2. The production of melatonin in human has a strong cycle: less during the day and more at night. Through this rule it will help the human body perceive the day and night. So the main role of melatonin is to regulate the biological clock in the body. Then it will remind your brain when it is time to sleep.
3. When get older, the production of melatonin will tend to decline. Lower level of melatonin and less sleep is one of the important characteristics of human aging.
4. Melatonin is also produced in other organs such as the skin and digestive organs. but the melatonin will do not affect your biological clock and play a role in oxidation resistance and other functions.
Target group
After understanding the above properties of melatonin, you could know it more clearly: Melatonin does have the effect for people with sleep disorders. Especially it is caused by melatonin deficiency.
1. Middle-aged and elderly group
As we age especially after the age of 40, the pineal gland gradually begins to “age” too. The melatonin production will decrease significantly and result in the disruption of the biological clock and more sleep disorders. By supplementing with exogenous melatonin, the body's melatonin levels can be increased. Then regulate the biological clock and restore sleep quality very effectively.
2. Jet lag group
The people in this group are mainly working with the long-time airline flight or long-term night shift. The issue of jet lag will cause sleep circadian rhythm disorder. Like hard to sleep, easy to wake up during sleep, lack of energy and poor digestion.
One of the most important properties of melatonin is to adjust the sleep time. For people who have trouble sleeping due to jet lag, take melatonin in the right amount. It will help restore sleep jet lag and improve sleep quality.
3. The group with DSWPD
The full name of this disorder is delayed sleep-wake phase disorder. It includes adults and adolescents. This disorder is caused by the inability of internal circadian rhythms. It cannot sync well with the light and dark cycles of the natural environment.
The individuals with DSWPD have a distinct "night owl" preference. These individuals habitually go to bed later and wake up later than their regular or expected hours. Clinical studies have shown that appropriate melatonin supplementation can improve sleep onset times in children and adults. They can alter circadian rhythm to alleviate sleep problems.
4. Other insomnia problems
In fact, there are many different factors for insomnia, including staying up late, environmental causes, psychological causes, etc. They are very complex.
Melatonin is effective in reducing the awakening times during sleep cycle. Also it helps prolong the duration of deep sleep and improve overall sleep quality. But melatonin is difficult to provide help for all the types of insomnia problems.
Therefore, if you have insomnia problems, it is better to inquire about the cause. Then prescribe the right medication rather than blindly trying melatonin.
Practical applications of exogenous melatonin
There are three main types of exogenous melatonin available on the market. For the people who want to solve their sleep problems with melatonin, please look for the right type for yourself.
1. Melatonin tablets, such as Natrol Melatonin Fast Dissolve Tablets
2. Melatonin gummies, such as ZzzQuil PURE Zzzs, Triple Action Gummy
3. Melatonin diffuser, such as Joyevita CAPSU & CAPSU NANO
The first two are more traditional forms, just introduce the third type melatonin diffuser. There are three main features as below:
● A liquid formula using melatonin and other herbal extracts. Like red jujube and chamomile. The blending has more advantages in terms of sleep aid effect.
● Inhale by human mouth with vaporization technology. It is more easily and quickly absorbed by the human body.
● In the form of electronic sleep aid device and with different efficacy flavors liquid. Create a new generation of health products.
Summary
Due to the special role of melatonin, there are more and more products on the market. I hope this article is helpful to people with sleep disorders. Please notice that melatonin can only be used for specific people and not for the purpose of medical disease. The users must also choose the right melatonin sleep aid products.
Key Reference:
Melatonin: A mitochondrial resident with a diverse skill set
Melatonin: Uses, Interactions, Mechanism of Action | DrugBank Online
Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder (DSWPD) in Children and Adolescents
May 12, 2022
