Abstract
Melatonin, the primary hormone of the pineal gland, acts as a powerful “chronobiotic,” maintaining normal circadian rhythms. In patients with sleep disorders and altered circadian rhythms, such as occur in jet lag, night shift work, and various neuropsychiatric disorders, oral administration of melatonin can provide the necessary resynchronization of those cycles, at dosages ranging from 0.3 to 8 mg. Synthesis of melatonin from the amino acid tryptophan is decreased by exposure to magnetic fields and by the aging process. Melatonin is a potent scavenger of free radicals and exerts direct inhibition of cancer growth. Various cancer types have been shown to be responsive to oral melatonin (10-50 mg daily), including breast cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and brain metastases from solid tumors. Melatonin has also been reported to lower LDL- and total cholesterol levels. Abnormally low melatonin levels have been theorized to be a factor in multiple sclerosis, coronary heart disease, epilepsy, and postmenopausal osteoporosis. These reports, while preliminary, serve to further illustrate the wide range of potential effects exerted by melatonin.