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Article: Melatonin.(Monograph)
- Article from:
- Alternative Medicine Review
- Article date:
- December 1, 2005
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Thorne Research Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Introduction
Melatonin, the primary 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 ...