Melatonin is known as the sleep hormone, but it is SO much more than that. Yes, it is produced in the brain and controls the day/night cycle. However, what many people don’t realize is that is also produced in other places in the body such as the gastrointestinal tract, skin, bone marrow, and more where it exerts important local effects that are important for health. Additionally, it is a powerful antioxidant making it crucial in mitigating harmful free radical damage which is implicated in aging and many chronic diseases.

In today’s episode, we break down the synthesis, physiology, and metabolism of melatonin. We discuss not only melatonin’s role in day/night cycles, but its important systemic effects to promote health and mitigate harmful risks.

Today on The Lab Report:

• 2:40 Melatonin is an important hormone
• 6:30 Break it down: melatonin and day/night cycles
• 9:00 Babies and sleep
• 10:30 Suprachiasmatic nucleus and blindness
• 11:30 Sleep, shift workers, jet lag 
• 14:30 Systemic antioxidant effects
• 16:10 Melatonin in the GI tract
• 17:40 Brain health, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other hormones
• 21:00 Supplementation and side effects
• 23:25 Question of the Day
  • Does melatonin supplementation affect nutrition testing?

Additional Resources:

Comprehensive Melatonin Profile

One Day Hormone Check

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