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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tealady on May 7, 2005, at 18:52:46
Hi everyone,
I came across a couple of abstracts last night that indicated melatonin may help with oxidation/nitrate stuff I may have.
I've always fallen asleep really easily and on time..in fact I find it impossible to stay awake... Difficut enough in the day.Just wondered if anyone has heard if it is contraindicaed for say hypothyroid or hahshimoto..or depression. I thi nk I saw that somewhere? but now I can't find it?
Also wondered what folk have taken it for and if they had success/failure etc.
I see a thread above where it didn't help with sleep a lot?
I was offered it 2 or 3 years ago by a doc(its script only here) but I thought I slept too much if anything.The stuff I was reading indicated it may even hel- anxiety? Anyone used melatonin for that?
Also has it got anything to do with melanin?
Your experiences/opinions/knowledge much appreciated,
Jan
Posted by tealady on May 7, 2005, at 19:01:41
In reply to Melatonin - what's is for? any contraindications?, posted by tealady on May 7, 2005, at 18:52:46
Melatonin reduced the rises in nitrite/nitrate levels and inflammtory markers
Early indicators of chronic lung disease in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome and their inhibition by melatonin
Authors: Gitto E.1; Reiter R.J.2; Amodio A.1; Romeo C.3; Cuzzocrea E.1; Sabatino G.4; Buonocore G.5; Cordaro V.1; Trimarchi G.1; Barberi I.1
Source: Journal of Pineal Research, May 2004, vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 250-255(6)
Abstract::
Improved survival from advances in neonatal care has resulted in an increased number of infants at risk for chronic lung disease (CLD). Recently, it was reported that inflammatory mediators such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- and IL-8 are present in higher concentrations in lung lavage from babies who develop CLD. Previously, we found that melatonin reduced the rises in proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-) and nitrite/nitrate levels in the serum of preterm newborns with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The values correlated with gestational age and iatrogenic trauma in the form of oxygen exposure and mechanical ventilation. Increased concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines may, therefore, be the most valuable early indicator of developing CLD and these measurements may assist in selecting infants for interventions such as melatonin treatment or more selective blockage of components of inflammation. In the current study, we extend the original observations and report results in which 120 newborns diagnosed with RDS were either treated with melatonin (60 children) or given placebo (60 children). The cytokine measures were consistent with the previously reported findings and showed that melatonin reduced these values and also lowered nitrite/nitrate levels in serum of newborns with respiratory distress. Furthermore, when nonmelatonin-treated newborns who developed CLD (eight infants) were examined separately, they had levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF- and nitrite/nitrate values much higher than those in children who did not develop CLD. Two of the nonmelatonin-treated newborns died while no children who received melatonin died. Melatonin was well tolerated by the newborns.
Posted by tealady on May 7, 2005, at 19:06:43
In reply to Melatonin - what's is for? any contraindications?, posted by tealady on May 7, 2005, at 18:52:46
The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and melatonin in humans: possible interactions in the control of body temperature.
Mazzoccoli G, Giuliani A, Carughi S, De Cata A, Puzzolante F, La Viola M, Urbano N, Perfetto F, Tarquini R.
Department of Internal Medicine, Regional General Hospital Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Opera di Padre Pio da Pietrelcina, Cappuccini Av., 71013 S.Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy.
OBJECTIVE: Melatonin plays a role in the regulation of biological rhythms, body temperature presents circadian variations with lower levels during nighttime, when melatonin levels are very high, and thyroid hormones influence shiver independent thermogenesis. We have investigated on possible interactions between the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and melatonin in the control of body temperature in humans.
METHODS: Peripheral blood samples for thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free-thyroxine (FT4), melatonin levels determination and body temperature measurements were obtained every four hours for 24-hours starting at 0600 h in a controlled temperature and light-dark environment from ten healthy males, aged 38-65 (mean age +/-s.e. 57.4+/-3.03, mean body mass index +/-s.e. 25.5+/-0.75).
We calculated fractional variation and correlation on single time point hormone serum levels and tested whether the time-qualified data series showed consistent pattern of circadian variation.RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was evidenced for the fractional variation of daytime TSH serum levels
(0600 h-1000 h vs. 1000 h-1400 h, p=0.01, 1000 h-1400 h vs. 1400 h-1800 h, p=0.0001, 1400 h-1800 h vs. 1800 h-2200 h, p=0.001)
and for the fractional variation of FT4 serum levels at 1800 h-2200 h vs. 2200 h-0200 h (p=0.02).FT4 serum levels correlated positively with TRH serum levels at 1000 h (r=0.67, P=0.03) and at 1400 h (r=0.63, p=0.04), negatively with TSH serum levels at 2200 h (r=-0.67, p=0.03), negatively with melatonin serum levels at 2200 h (r=-0.64, p=0.04) and at 0200 h (r=-0.73, p=0.01).
TRH serum levels correlated positively with TSH serum levels at 0200 h (r=0.65, p=0.04) and at 0600 h (r=0.64, p=0.04).
Body temperature correlated positively with FT4 serum levels at 1000 h (r=0.63, p=0.04) and negatively with melatonin serum levels at 0200 h (r=-0.64, p=0.04). A clear circadian rhythm was validated for body temperature (with acrophase in the morning) and melatonin, TRH and TSH secretion (with acrophase at night), while FT4 serum level changes presented ultradian periodicity (with acrophase in the morning).
CONCLUSION: Changes of TSH serum levels are smaller and those of FT4 are greater at night, when melatonin levels are higher, so that the response of anterior pituitary to hypothalamic TRH and of thyroid to hypophyseal TSH may be influenced by the pineal hormone that may modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis function and influence the circadian rhythm of body temperature.Jan
Posted by tealady on May 7, 2005, at 19:08:11
In reply to Melatonin - what's is for? any contraindications?, posted by tealady on May 7, 2005, at 18:52:46
Melatonin mitigates mitochondrial malfunction
Authors: Josefa León1; Darío Acuña-Castroviejo2; Germane Escames2; Dun-Xian Tan1; Russel J. Reiter1
Source: Journal of Pineal Research, January 2005, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 1-9(9)
Abstract::
Melatonin, or N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, is a compound derived from tryptophan that is found in all organisms from unicells to vertebrates. This indoleamine may act as a protective agent in disease conditions such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, aging, sepsis and other disorders including ischemia/reperfusion. In addition, melatonin has been proposed as a drug for the treatment of cancer. These disorders have in common a dysfunction of the apoptotic program. Thus, while defects which reduce apoptotic processes can exaggerate cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and ischemic conditions are made worse by enhanced apoptosis. The mechanism by which melatonin controls cell death is not entirely known. Recently, mitochondria, which are implicated in the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis, have been identified as a target for melatonin actions. It is known that melatonin scavenges oxygen and nitrogen-based reactants generated in mitochondria. This limits the loss of the intramitochondrial glutathione and lowers mitochondrial protein damage, improving electron transport chain (ETC) activity and reducing mtDNA damage. Melatonin also increases the activity of the complex I and complex IV of the ETC, thereby improving mitochondrial respiration and increasing ATP synthesis under normal and stressful conditions. These effects reflect the ability of melatonin to reduce the harmful reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential that may trigger mitochondrial transition pore (MTP) opening and the apoptotic cascade. In addition, a reported direct action of melatonin in the control of currents through the MTP opens a new perspective in the understanding of the regulation of apoptotic cell death by the indoleamine.
Posted by tealady on May 7, 2005, at 19:10:48
In reply to Melatonin - what's is for? any contraindications?, posted by tealady on May 7, 2005, at 18:52:46
Melatonin: reducing the toxicity and increasing the efficacy of drugs.
Reiter RJ, Tan DX, Sainz RM, Mayo JC, Lopez-Burillo S.
University of Texas Health Science Center, Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, MC 7762, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. Reiter@uthscsa.edu
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a molecule with a very wide phylogenetic distribution from plants to man. In vertebrates, melatonin was initially thought to be exclusively of pineal origin recent studies have shown, however, that melatonin synthesis may occur in a variety of cells and organs.
The concentration of melatonin within body fluids and subcellular compartments varies widely, with blood levels of the indole being lower than those at many other sites. Thus, when defining what constitutes a physiological level of melatonin, it must be defined relative to a specific compartment.
Melatonin has been shown to have a variety of functions, and research in the last decade has proven the indole to be both a direct free radical scavenger and indirect antioxidant. Because of these actions, and possibly others that remain to be defined, melatonin has been shown to reduce the toxicity and increase the efficacy of a large number of drugs whose side effects are well documented.
Herein, we summarize the beneficial effects of melatonin when combined with the following drugs: doxorubicin, cisplatin, epirubicin, cytarabine, bleomycin, gentamicin, ciclosporin, indometacin, acetylsalicylic acid, ranitidine, omeprazole, isoniazid, iron and erythropoietin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, haloperidol, caposide-50, morphine, cyclophosphamide and L-cysteine. While the majority of these studies were conducted using animals, a number of the investigations also used man. Considering the low toxicity of melatonin and its ability to reduce the side effects and increase the efficacy of these drugs, its use as a combination therapy with these agents seems important and worthy of pursuit.Jan
Posted by Declan on May 8, 2005, at 1:19:11
In reply to Melatonin:reduce toxicity incr efficacy of drugs, posted by tealady on May 7, 2005, at 19:10:48
There is a precaution for its use with people who are depressed; you can perhaps find it in the faqs section on this board. Don't think it's made me any more depressed. Doesn't help my sleep either.
Declan
Posted by JLx on May 8, 2005, at 11:53:42
In reply to Re: Melatonin:reduce toxicity incr efficacy of drugs, posted by Declan on May 8, 2005, at 1:19:11
> There is a precaution for its use with people who are depressed; you can perhaps find it in the faqs section on this board. Don't think it's made me any more depressed. Doesn't help my sleep either.
> DeclanI've tried it and yes, it can increase depression. I believe it may be dose dependent. I've seen recommendations for much higher doses than I've found advisable.
I've used it successfully for sleeping, in tiny doses -- a quarter of a 3 mg tablet.
I think it's important to take it early enough at night too. Iow, not just before one wants to try to fall asleep but an hour or perhaps even 2 before.
The trouble comes in next day feeling down.
Looks like the comments on this page confirm my experience:
"Depression: 0.125 mg twice in the late afternoon, each dose four hours apart (for example, 4 PM and 8 PM). People with depression tend to be particularly sensitive to the effects of melatonin -- meaning that a very low dose is generally enough to get the desired outcomes."
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/Melatonincs.html
JL
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