Melatonin is a hormone secreted by an organ of the brain called the pineal gland. Its concentration in plasma decreases during the day and increases at night. It is through this circadian secretion cycle of melatonin that the pineal gland sends "time signal" to the central nervous system. When the night comes, the brain and body can perceive the news that it has become night outside and can fall asleep. As a result, melatonin is also known as the natural "sleeping drug" of the human body. Melatonin can not only improve the quality of sleep, but also control and affect the secretion of other hormones. It plays an important role in maintaining the function of endocrine system, improving immunity, antioxidant, anti-aging and so on.
So, how does the human body secrete melatonin? The amount of melatonin starts to increase after 14 hours of light stimulation in the morning, and reaches its peak after about 16 hours. In other words, the secretion of melatonin is regulated by light, which is inhibited when it is bright and increases when it is dark.
Therefore, the darker the bedroom light, the better, the darker the light, the more conducive to the secretion of melatonin, and the amount of melatonin secretion, will directly affect people's sleep depth. If the body's melatonin is reduced at night, there will be a series of insomnia, dreaminess, fatigue and forgetfulness, and various diseases will follow.
With the progress of science and technology, the theory that melatonin can make people fall asleep by lowering body temperature has been used in clinical medicine. We may use melatonin receptor agonists in clinic, such as rameetide, termesartan, agomelatonin, etc. they can not be taken with aspirin at the same time. These preparations are not hypnotics and have no sedative effect, but only help to regulate the biological clock and make people sleepy.
Clinical studies have shown that melatonin receptor agonists are effective in the treatment of sleep disorders associated with dementia, especially in patients with sunset syndrome. Taking 1 mg melatonin 2 hours before going to bed every night can effectively improve the main complaints of sleep disorders in patients with dementia related sleep disorders, shorten the sleep latency, reduce the number of awakenings in sleep, and improve sleep efficiency and sleep quality. In addition, melatonin can also be used to treat sleep disorders with dysrhythmia, including the elderly, sleep phase delay syndrome, jet lag syndrome, shift workers, blind people or brain injury and other endogenous melatonin synthesis disorders.
The effect of melatonin is far more than regulating the circulation of sleep and awake. It also has the effect of regulating blood flow and contracting coronary artery. However, this effect is not applicable to all people. People with heart insufficiency and depression tendency need to pay attention to it. Melatonin may aggravate the symptoms and should not be taken. Hypertension, rheumatoid disease patients and pregnant women should be cautious. Consult your doctor before using melatonin, and then decide whether to use it and how long to use it after confirming that there are no adverse effects.
In general, we should try our best to choose "green melatonin", that is to use the following methods to change the way to promote the natural secretion of human body. Proper exposure to the sun during the day is conducive to the secretion of melatonin at night and helps sleep. Early sleep is a necessary factor in melatonin production.
Try to drink less coffee, caffeine will reduce the secretion of melatonin. When you sleep at night, you should turn off the light, which can hinder the production of melatonin.
Eating banana can keep the balance of melatonin. Oats, sweet corn, tomato and barley are all rich in melatonin. The intake of kelp, soybean, pumpkin seed, almond fruit and other foods also contribute to the synthesis of melatonin.
User guide
Can patients with vitiligo eat melatonin
Patients with vitiligo can take melatonin as a kind of health care products. Melatonin can improve human immunity, but we must be careful when using melatonin. The daily demand for melatonin is only a few milligrams per day. If overdose, it will produce certain side effects.
The secretion of melatonin begins to decrease in middle age, and is negligible in old age. Early intake and supplement of melatonin can improve the function of endocrine system, enhance immunity, improve anti tension, which is beneficial to the prevention and treatment of vitiligo.
As melatonin has a certain antioxidant effect, excessive use of it will have a certain impact on the production of melanin, so we must pay attention to the grasp, the best to consult a doctor.
Notes on taking melatonin
1. Take the product in strict accordance with the requirements of the product label, dosage and time.
2. Don't be superstitious about imported melatonin products. Melatonin is a kind of health food. No matter it is the raw material imported from home or abroad, as long as the quality standard is qualified and the health food approval number approved by the Ministry of health, it is a qualified product, and its taking effect is the same.
3. Taking melatonin should not be accompanied by aspirin.
4. It is best not to smoke when taking melatonin, because smoking can destroy melatonin. You can't drink too much.
5. The health function of melatonin approved by the Ministry of health is only to improve sleep function. The literature reports on other health functions of melatonin need to be further verified.
