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Melatonin & Amino Acid Hormones

Jul 19, 2011 | By Tomas Linnaeus
Melatonin & Amino Acid Hormones
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Melatonin affects physiological processes in almost all organisms. Important for timekeeping, the pineal gland releases this hormone each night as a chemical indicator of darkness. Melatonin also affects other hormones including substances made from amino acids. A review in the August 2004 issue of "Chemistry and Biodiversity" describes the important role these peptide hormones play in your physical and mental health. Supplementing melatonin can replace hormones lost to disease and aging. Speak with a doctor before taking nutritional supplements.

Melatonin and Thyroid Hormones

Your body makes thyroid hormones such as thyroxine from the amino acid tyrosine. Thyroid hormones follow a yearly pattern which prepares organisms for the seasons, according to an August 2001 report in the "Journal of Biological Rhythms." Thyroxine decreases in the spring causing animals to shed their topcoat. A paper published in the July 2010 edition of "Theriogenology" revealed that melatonin prevented the usual summer decline in thyroxine in sheep. Similar results have been obtained in humans. A February 2001 study in "Experimental Gerontology" showed that women with melatonin deficiency could increase their thyroxine levels by taking melatonin supplements. These data suggest that thyroid-deficient adults could use melatonin to prevent the fatigue and confusion associated with hypothyroidism.

Melatonin and Growth Hormones

The pituitary gland uses dietary amino acids to manufacture several substances known to affect development. The most common of these growth hormones -- known as somatotropin -- facilitates healing and recovery, according to a July 2009 article in "Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs." Taking melatonin can also improve the recovery process. A study described in the May 2011 issue of the "Journal of Pineal Research" revealed that supplementation facilitated the healing of stomach ulcers. The mechanism behind the latter effect remains unknown, but it might involve increases in growth hormones. A June 1998 report in "Neuropeptides" showed that a single dose of melatonin enhanced somatotropin levels in healthy adults.

Melatonin and Prolactin

Prolactin is another important peptide hormone released by the pituitary gland. This substance -- a chain of 198 amino acids -- affects sexual health and breastfeeding, according to an April 2010 review in the "Journal of Endocrinology." It may also affect how your body processes sugar. An investigation presented in the May 2009 edition of the "Journal of Sexual Medicine" showed that low levels of prolactin correlate with sexual dysfunction and diabetic symptoms in men. Melatonin supplements may help treat these symptoms. A May 2001 report in "Clinical Physiology" indicated that melatonin triggers an immediate release of prolactin in both women and men.

Melatonin and Erythropoietin

Cyclists sometimes use the hormone erythropoietin -- a sequence of 166 amino acids -- to improve their athletic performance. This chemical also helps patients recover from heart attack and stroke, according to a 2010 article in "Advances in Pharmacology." Using erythropoietin, however, causes tissue oxidation -- the physiological equivalent of rust. An August 2011 review in the "Journal of Pineal Research" describes melatonin as a potent antioxidant. Taking melatonin should, therefore, help reduce erythropoietin-induced oxidation. An experiment described in the April 2001 edition of the "American Journal of Kidney Diseases" tested this hypothesis in hemodialysis patients. Participants received melatonin or placebo during a single testing session. Supplementation reduced measures of oxidation without causing side effects.

References

Article reviewed by Tina Boyle Last updated on: Jul 19, 2011

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