|
|
Article: Melatonin and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Article from:
- Dynamic Chiropractic
- Article date:
- March 12, 2006
- Author:
-
|
Copyright informationCopyright Dynamic Chiropractic Mar 12, 2006. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
Melatonin is involved in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle, circadian rhythms, and seasonal changes in the light-dark cycle. Commonly used to induce sleep, some (but not all) find that melatonin reduces jet lag. There is a high concentration of melatonin in the pineal gland, where it is manufactured. I was surprised to learn there are significant amounts of melatonin present in the gastrointestinal tract. Apparently, melatonin helps regulate gastrointestinal motility.1
Those of you who do more than a site-specific history are well-aware of the number of people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Epidemiological studies performed in the United States, the United Kingdom, and ...