Description
About melatonin Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland, the epiphysis of the brain and its function is primarily to help control our circadian rhythm. The secretion of melatonin is a mechanism that makes us sleepy and the content varies during the day and is affected by light and darkness. The level increases in the dark and is at its highest at night and at its lowest during the day when the light is at its strongest. Some people have too low melatonin production which makes it difficult for them to fall asleep. If you suffer from sleep problems, there are good reasons to test your levels and if our test shows low levels, there are supplements to buy to get your levels up. Melatonin also helps the body regulate other hormones, our blood pressure and body temperature. There are also links between low levels of melatonin and depression and premature ageing. Melatonin deficiency Melatonin is a hormone that is created from the amino acid tryptophan and that the body itself produces in the pineal gland. When the levels of melatonin rise during the day towards the evening, it gives the body a signal that it’s time to sleep which makes you drowsy and tired. If melatonin production is disturbed, you may have difficulty sleeping. Sleep disorders can be caused by various factors such as blindness, jet lag, menopause, rising age, night work and more. To overcome the sleep problems, you can take extra melatonin in the form of supplements or medication. The production of melatonin is affected by, among other things, artificial lighting, hard training late in the day, the cycles of the year and ageing. By measuring and identifying any imbalances, you can initiate the right treatment to improve melatonin production.
