Replacing the sleeping hormone, melatonin, which is used up by age thirty-five and faster if you are stressed. [1]
About
Source: http://www.smart-publications.com/sleeping_disorders/sleep.php
Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland, which sits in the hypothalamus, in the center of the brain, and is a chemical derivative of serotonin, a brain neurotransmitter that has a calming effect. Melatonin sets biological clocks, stimulates the immune system, fights free radicals, inhibits tumor promoters such as estrogen, and even reduces high blood pressure. But it is best known as the master regulator hormone that sets the body's clock and induces sleep.
When the sun goes down and it gets dark, the pineal gland secretes melatonin, which makes us feel less alert. Body temperature starts to fall and ideally, when enough melatonin floods the bloodstream, we fall asleep and stay asleep all night. Melatonin levels drop quickly as the sun rises.
Melatonin levels peak at about 2 a.m. in normal, healthy young people and about 3 a.m. in elderly people. The maximum amount of melatonin released in the bloodstream of the elderly is only half of that in young adults.4 The delay in timing and decrease in intensity of the melatonin pulse is a natural result of the aging process, and in fact, low production of melatonin at night is associated with insomnia in patients aged 55 years or older. The good news is these patients have been identified as being more likely to respond to melatonin supplementation.5
The melatonin pulse regulates many neuroendocrine functions. It is itself regulated by exposure to daylight, which inhibits it, and darkness, which stimulates its secretion. Sleep and the immune system work hand in hand. During sleep, melatonin turns on the immune system to make antibodies and destroy cancer cells.
Usefulness in Antiviral Activity
In conclusion, the immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects of melatonin suggest that this indole must be considered as an additional therapeutic alternative to fight viral diseases.
