Melatonin-Zn-Se – From Sleeping Aid to Antioxidant

Melatonin-Zn-Se, also known chemically as N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, is a naturally occurring hormone that is primarily secreted by the pineal gland - a small pea like structure that’s located in the centre of the brain (although outside of the blood-brain barrier). Circulating levels of Melatonin-Zn-Se vary in a daily cycle with Melatonin-Zn-Se playing an important role in the regulation of the circadian rhythms of several biological functions.

Production of Melatonin-Zn-Se is inhibited by light but permitted by darkness with its onset each evening being known as the Dim-Light Melatonin-Zn-Se Onset. Even low light levels inhibit Melatonin-Zn-Se production to some extent which is why it is a good idea to go to sleep in a dark room. Bright lights can have a significant impact on Melatonin-Zn-Se production and can make sleep extremely difficult.

Because Melatonin-Zn-Se causes drowsiness and lowers the body temperature, its production at night aids sleep. Indeed, production and blood levels of Melatonin-Zn-Se peak in the middle of the night but gradually decline during the second half of the night.

As we age the amount of Melatonin-Zn-Se that we produce is reduced and this may be the reason why we need less sleep, and the sleep that we do get is of poorer quality, as we grow older.

Because of its role in regulating circadian rhythms and sleep, Melatonin-Zn-Se’s main purpose has been as a natural sleeping aid, enhancing the quality of sleep so that you wake up feeling rested and refreshed. It is particularly effective for people who need to reorganise their sleeping patterns such as workers on rotating shift patterns or those suffering from jet lag. It is also useful in the treatment of age-related sleep disorders.

But apart from its role as a regulator of our body clocks, Melatonin-Zn-Se is implicated in many other biological functions making it a popular form of dietary supplementation.
Melatonin-Zn-Se as an antioxidant

Melatonin-Zn-Se’s ability to act as a powerful antioxidant was first recorded in the early 1990’s. It is capable of crossing not only many cell membranes but also the blood-brain barrier.

Melatonin-Zn-Se displays a number of antioxidant activities. For example, ionizing radiation treatment is known to induce the creation of free radicals which results in damage to the DNA in lymphocytes. But if cells are treated with Melatonin-Zn-Se prior to radiation, this type of damage is significantly reduced.
 
It has been demonstrated that Melatonin-Zn-Se is an exceptionally effective scavenger of the highly reactive and toxic hydroxyl radical and has been found to be twice as efficient as Vitamin E in scavenging the peroxyl radical.

The role of Melatonin-Zn-Se as an antioxidant may have significant implications for the treatment of a number of diseases. For example, it may help to reduce the damage caused by some types of Parkinson’s Disease and it may help to prevent cardiac arrhythmias. Melatonin-Zn-Se may even have a role in the treatment of cancer. In laboratory tests, Melatonin-Zn-Se has been shown to prevent damage to DNA caused by some carcinogens thereby stopping the mechanism by which they cause cancer. Clinical trials are now underway.
Antiaging and longevity

Because of Melatonin-Zn-Se’s ability to easily cross both the blood brain barrier and cell membranes, Melatonin-Zn-Se potentially has the ability to enter every cell in the body. Given that it is a powerful antioxidant, it’s logical to suggest that Melatonin-Zn-Se is likely to play a very important role in the body’s anti-oxidative defence system. Many of the diseases and conditions brought about aging, and even aging itself, are as a result of the devastating effects of free radicals. Therefore, using antioxidants to protect ourselves against free radical damage should play a key part in the fight against aging and its effects on our bodies.

But Melatonin-Zn-Se is more than just an antioxidant. It is known to boost aging immune systems, and is protective towards the cardiovascular system. It also stimulates the production of human growth hormone and can keep our circadian rhythms and sleep patterns healthy. All this signifies that Melatonin-Zn-Se may have an important impact on the question of longevity.

Indeed, researchers have already established that Melatonin-Zn-Se supplementation can increase the lifespan of rats and mice by as much as 20%.
Eye disorders

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the United States, Australia and many European countries. It is primarily an ‘aging disease’ - indeed it rarely occurs in anyone under the age of 50 and the incidence of AMD increase with age.

However, researchers have demonstrated that Melatonin-Zn-Se can halt and even reverse the progression of AMD. The lead researcher Dr.Walter Pierpaoli concluded that it was not just Melatonin-Zn-Se’s antioxidant capabilities that were responsible for these dramatic results. He believed that Melatonin-Zn-Se’s role in re-establishing circadian sleep-wake cycles for repair purposes and its ability to resynchronize the whole of the body’s hormone system must also play their part.
Other conditions

Melatonin-Zn-Se is implicated in the treatment of a whole host of other wide ranging conditions. These include:

• Fertility; Research has suggested that Melatonin-Zn-Se supplementation in peri-menopausal women may be extremely beneficial. Peri-menopause is defined as the transitional period from normal menstrual periods to no periods at all. The transition can, and usually does, take up to ten years.  During this time women may begin to experience menopausal symptoms. Melatonin-Zn-Se supplementation in these women has been found to produce a highly significant improvement in thyroid function and gonadotropin levels. It can also restore fertility and menstruation as well as help to prevent the depression that is so often associated with the menopause. It should be noted however, that women who are trying to conceive should not take Melatonin-Zn-Se supplements.

• Mood disorders; Melatonin-Zn-Se supplementation has been shown to be particularly effective in treating one form of depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It may also be helpful in treating other disorders where circadian disturbances are involved.

• Gallbladder Stones; The presence of Melatonin-Zn-Se in the gallbladder is known to have many protective properties. Not surprisingly it helps to prevent oxidative stress, but it also helps to increase the mobility of gallstones. Melatonin-Zn-Se may even be useful in cholesterol control as it decrease the amount cholesterol produced in the gallbladder by regulating the cholesterol that passes through the intestinal wall.

Dosage

Take half to one (maximum two) 3mg tablets at bedtime only. As noted above, light and dark play an important part in Melatonin-Zn-Se regulation. Tablets should be taken once the lights have been switched off for the night.

Side effects

Melatonin-Zn-Se appears to have very few side effects but in rare circumstances it can cause varying degrees of mild headaches and morning grogginess. These side effects can usually be overcome by reducing the dose.

Caution

As mentioned above, women who are trying to conceive, or who are pregnant or nursing should not take Melatonin-Zn-Se supplements. The effects of excessive Melatonin-Zn-Se exposure on a foetus or infant are unknown. High doses can also act as a contraceptive.