Melatonin 3 mg tabs by Designs For Health (DFH) 

Read Customer questions and answers about Other Health Concerns in our FAQ.

• increase life span and survival in animal studies (10)
• improve sleep quality, especially during aging (1,2)
• reduce jet lag or help adjust sleep times for shift workers(3)
• relieve certain types of depression such as SAD (seasonal affective disorder)(4, 5)
• support Growth Hormone production(11)
• stimulate the immune system(14)
• increase antioxidant defenses(10)
• be protective for the brain and improve recovery from stroke(12)
• reduce migraines(9)
• reduce side-effects from chemotherapy(15)
• enhance the death of the cancer cells during chemotherapy while protecting healthy cells(15)
• protect the liver against toxic injuries(13)
• alleviate glaucoma(7)
• reduce stress hormones(8)
• reduce blood pressure(8)

Melatonin is a hormone with many functions. Most importantly it is involved in the control of the circadian (day/night) biological rhythms. Melatonin mediates the body's response to variations of natural light availability from indoor/outdoor exposure or due to seasons (winter/summer). Darkness into the eye tells the brain to make melatonin so the body can prepare for sleep mode. Its production should peak at night.(2, 4)

This important hormone also regulates immunity, the stress response, and some aspects of the aging process including growth hormone production. In addition to all of this, melatonin is a very potent antioxidant that easily penetrates the cell membranes and even binds and protects the nuclear DNA.(10)

This necessary hormone is synthesized in the human body, mostly in the brain, by the pineal gland from precursors as shown below:

Tryptophan --> 5-HTP --> Serotonin --> Melatonin

The synthesis steps depicted above require cofactors such as vitamin B6, SAM-e, iron and a folate-derived compound THB (tetrahydrobiopterin). Other cells in the body, such as immune cells, synthesize small amounts of melatonin as well.

Great care is taken in ensuring the purity and quality of the source of Designs For Health Melatonin (3mg/cap). Melatonin production declines significantly with age, due to various causes such as pineal calcification, possibly inadequate brain tissue function and sensitivity, and other unknown factors.(6) Factors that may reduce melatonin production at any age are the following:

• Poor sleeping habits: going to bed too late, sleeping during the day
• Inadequate darkness for the duration of the night (night lamps, clocks with light, outside street lighting, curtains that allow light through)
• Insufficient exposure to natural light during daytime, such as during winter at certain latitudes, and too much time spent indoors
• Excessive mental stress, high adrenaline and/or cortisol at night
• High caffeine or alcohol consumption too close to bed time

• Inadequate brain availability of precursors such as tryptophan or serotonin, which may occur during stressful states or high protein/low carbohydrate diets
• Inadequate availability of cofactors necessary for serotonin and melatonin synthesis: vitamin B6, SAM-e (S-Adenosyl Methionine), iron and folate

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