Probiotics – Benefits, Uses, Side Effects, Dosage, Facts

The human body is full of live bacteria, sometimes bad and sometimes good microorganisms; the ones that usually help in cleaning the human guts are referred to as the helpful or good bacteria. The idea of having live beneficial bacteria in the human body can be difficult to comprehend because man generally have the basic conception that bacteria utterly means something bad in the system. However, there are group of good bacteria that live inside the human body that helps in cleaning the gut and protecting the immune system.

When food is taken into the human system, it goes to the digestive tracts where some organisms work on the food molecules breaking it down into smaller particles to aid digestion. There are certain good microorganisms that live in the digestive system of the human that help specifically in digesting food, destroying disease-causing microorganisms and producing vitamins. These good microorganisms are called probiotics. They are usually live bacteria and yeasts that exist in the digestive tracts of the human body. The word probiotic comes from two Greek words; pro meaning ‘promoting’ and biotic meaning ‘life’.

However, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) in October 2013 defined probiotic as live microorganisms that when taken in satisfactory quantities, convene a health benefit on the host. A detailed survey has shown that age, genetics, and diet may affect the structure of the bacteria in the body. When there is a sort of imbalance in the amount of good bacteria in the human body, the condition is known as dysbiosis, and this health condition increases the chances of diseases in the intestinal tract, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease and also systemic diseases like obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

These microorganisms are seen in almost every part of the human body. They live on the skin, on the nose and also in the gut. Studies has also revealed that there are trillions of these microorganisms in our bodies and they outnumber the human cells in the ratio of 10 to one, but owing to their small size, they only make up one to three percent of the human body’s total mass.

Some studies, however, suggested that probiotic gives a better looking skin. Besides, aiding in digestion, probiotics also helps in reducing depression and promoting heart health. These microorganisms also help in treating other health conditions and diseases like skin infections and allergies. They are usually available in some foods and nutritive supplements. The exciting part of probiotic is that unlike many other elements needed for healthy living, probiotics available in foods and nutritive supplements are similar to the probiotics that exist naturally in the human gut.

The naturally existing probiotic in the human system does not need or depend on additional food containing probiotics or the nutritive supplements to do its job. Nonetheless, food and nutritional supplements that contain probiotics help the good bacteria and yeast already in the gut in carrying out their activities.

Probiotics are usually fragile and need to be sheltered from various elements that can easily reduce their sustainability; some of these elements include heat, oxygen, light and humidity. It is therefore imperative to know if the probiotic to be taken needs to be refrigerated while taking it. Probiotic bacteria, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum, adolescentis, breve, longum and Saccharomyces boulardii are very delicate, and are quite sensitive to light, heat, moisture and oxygen. In other to get the full benefit of these probiotics, the probiotic bacteria strains need to be refrigerated so that their usefulness can be sustained and protected.

Probiotics are naturally seen in the human guts and can be gotten from nutritive supplements as well, most times also, probiotics are seen in fermented food and food products. This article would be looking into the probiotics and its nutritive supplement–the facts about it, the roles, sources of probiotics, the effects and side effects encountered during its usage, its health benefits, and when it is not safe to use it.

FACTS ABOUT PROBIOTICS

Probiotics help keep the body healthy and active by decreasing the amount of bad yeast and bacteria in the human system that could cause infections or swelling. These good microorganisms are known to produce substances that hinder the growth of bad bacteria in the digestive tracts. They also replace the body’s good bacteria that may have been lost from antibiotics intakes and also restores the body’s good microorganism balance which in turn keeps the body functioning properly as expected.

During a canal birth, a newborn picks these helpful bacteria from his or her mother; a baby delivered through caesarian section however, has been attested to not pick these microorganisms and hence known to have lots of allergies while growing.

SOURCES OF PROBIOTICS

Although probiotics exist naturally in the human gut, there are other sources from which probiotics could be gotten. Probiotics that occur naturally in the intestine include; saccharomyces boulardii, Lactobacillus and Bifobacterium. Other sources of probiotics include foods such as soy drinks, some juices, fermented and unfermented milk, buttermilk, some soft cheeses, miso, tempeh, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, many pickles and then food products like yogurt. Probiotics found in yogurts are called Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Probiotics can also be found in nutritive supplements available in capsules, tablets, powders and liquid extracts. These supplements contain various types and levels of probiotic and found most times in health food and natural food stores, vitamin shops, and other stores. The commonly used probiotic supplement mostly produced by most manufacturers is Acidophilus.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Studies suggest that probiotic supplements may be helpful in treating and also preventing inflammatory conditions to the digestive tract such as puchitis. It also prevent inflammatory bowel diseases such ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease; and also in treating long-term stomach inflammation and ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori bacterium.

Probiotics from research is known to be very effective in treating constipation, acid reflux, and spastic colon; shortening the duration of infectious diarrhea; and reducing the recurrence of bladder and colorectal cancer. There are also few studies clamming that probiotics are also being used for boosting of the human immune system. Other studies have gone further with the claim that probiotics are used extensively in the cure of joint stiffness, mental illness, sleeping problems, childhood stomach and respiratory infections, skin infections like eczema, allergies, lactose intolerance and asthma, although there are no sufficient evidence to back these claims up.

Probiotics in yogurt is also helpful in preventing a common side effect found with treatments using antibiotics like diarrhea. Studies have also shown that probiotics are used to prevent or treat urinary tract infections and vaginal yeast infections in women.

There has also been an extensive research that revealed that when some food products with probiotic effect were taken as nutritive supplements especially in teenagers, but also falteringly in women that have gone beyond menopause, that there was a notable increase in their calcium absorption as well as bone calcium accretion and the density of mineral in the bone.

EFFECTS AND SIDE EFFECTS

Not minding that probiotics exists naturally in the human body, they may trigger allergic reactions when taken in doses not recommended for the body. These reactions may result in mild stomach upset, diarrhea, flatulence and bloating for the first few days of taking it.

Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and also patients with weakened immune systems, critically ill people, people who have had surgeries, and sick children are advised to use probiotics with a lot of caution due to infections some studies have reported to occur when these set of people used probiotics.

Nutritive supplements in the U.S are usually not monitored by the FDA and therefore have no organized body monitoring the safety and effectiveness of these said supplements. This however means that consumers depend solely on the claims and assurances given to them by the manufacturers.

Researchers are somehow unclear on the effectiveness of probiotic supplements. Some percentages of studies say probiotic supplements are effective while others insists they add no benefit whatsoever to the human body.  There is however some sort of uncertainty on which probiotics to use and what combination would work together with other medications to treat certain diseases.

GROUPS THAT SHOULD AVOID PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENT

Probiotics have been recorded to tentatively result in infections that might need to be treated with antibiotics, particularly in people with certain health conditions. Studies revealed that probiotics can also cause harmful metabolic activities, an enormous stimulation of the immune system, and or insertion of genetic material into a cell also known as gene transfer. Cancer patients should avoid the use of probiotic supplements unless recommended by their health care provider.

In situations of pregnancy or during the breast feeding period, the use of probiotics supplement should be properly double-checked with the doctor or health care provider before usage.

CONCLUSION

Probiotic supplements are not monitored by FDA and this in turn leaves the safety and effectiveness of the supplement at the mercy of the manufacturers. It is however advised to deal with trusted manufacturers only and be sure to take the recommended dosage encouraged by the health care provider.

The probiotic supplement has been known to interfere with other medicines, in cases where the supplement is recommended by a health care provider, it is necessary to adhere strictly to the recommended dosage and the right combination.

 

Turmeric Curcumin – Why is it Important?

Turmeric with botanical name Curcuma longa is a member of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae, a flowering plant made of about fifty genera and over one thousand six hundred aromatic spices in perennial herbs. It is usually creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes in appearance. This flowering plant is found in the Tropics of Africa, Asia and America.

This plant is one of the major ingredients in many Asian foods and mostly used as one of the spices in curry making. It has a warm, pungent and slightly nasty taste, and mostly used in adding flavor or color to curry powder, butter, mustard. Turmeric is typically used for savory dishes and also its leaf is used in sweet dishes like patoleo, cake sfouf as seen in India dishes.

A yellow chemical–curcumin is major component of turmeric, found to be about three to eight percent weight in the turmeric plant and used in the coloring of food and cosmetics.  Curcumin is the key and active ingredient in Turmeric. Turmeric is commonly known as Indian saffron in many places due to its yellow color.

Turmeric is an herb that has gotten a lot of recognition in the cycle of health and human wellness. Record has it that it has so many health benefits in cases of arthritis and it protects the brain while one ages. Studies have also shown that turmeric curcumin were used to effectively cure and manage conditions such as sugar levels in blood, cholesterol levels, fungal and bacterial infections.

Turmeric has many health benefits that are not associated with curcumin but generally, turmeric and curcumin have almost the same health benefits. Nevertheless, since turmeric is known to exit alongside the presence of curcumin, it is hard to say for sure if turmeric is of greater health benefits than curcumin.

Some researchers however, have begun isolating curcumin from turmeric to check for the health benefits and compare it with the health benefits found in turmeric. Due to the general use of this plant in traditional medicine, there has been a huge raise of interest to its health benefits and a lot of ongoing researches to discover more of its uses in the treatment of some other health conditions besides the ones already known.

This article will address the difference between turmeric and curcumin, the facts about them, their health benefits, side effects, the appropriate dosage required for some major health conditions and occasions to avoid the usage of these supplements.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TUMERIC AND CURCUMIN

People often get confused on what turmeric and or curcumin really are and how they are related. To clarify this issue, turmeric is the yellow spiece found in the root of the turmeric plant and used in making curry while curcumin is a natural occurring chemical in turmeric that gives it its yellow color.

The botanical name of turmeric, curcuma longa, is actually where the natural chemical, curcumin got its name from. While curcumin is a chemical that can be readily extracted from turmeric, turmeric on the other hand cannot exist without curcumin. Again, although the turmeric spice has other seven chemical components in it, it is the curcumin that is the key component of turmeric.

FACTS ABOUT TURMERIC

Turmeric has its main ingredient as curcumin which has been found to be a very strong anti-inflammatory agent with powerful antioxidant effects. The content of curcumin in turmeric is however not very high; it is about three to eight percent by weight.

The presence of curcumin in turmeric however, has made it a herb with bioactive components and having high medicinal properties beneficial to health.

Due to the anti-oxidative strength of this herb, turmeric has been discovered to successfully fight aging and many other diseases in the body. During oxidation, free radicals with unpaired electrons reacts with significant organs in the body like proteins or DNA, and fatty acids and ends up damaging them; but with the presence of an anti-oxidant like turmeric, the body is protected from these free radicals.

Curcumin has been found to affect the growth of cancer, the spread and the development of cancer cells on a molecular level. Studies found curcumin very effective in the death of cancerous cells, reduction of growth in the blood tissues and spread of cancer. On further research, turmeric may be exposed as an effective cure for cancer in the future.

Piperine, a natural substance that encourages the absorption of curcumin into the bloodstream by two thousand percent is always necessary to be present while taking curcumin supplement since it is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream when taken alone.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Curcumin and turmeric supplement were found very effective for itching when it was taken three times daily for about eight weeks. It also reduced symptoms of hay fever such as sneezing, runny nose, and congestion. Turmeric has been known to reduce cholesterol very well, however, there are many types of turmeric supplement available and no knowledge of which does the magic yet.

Research showed that depressed people using antidepressant were totally healed when they started taking curcumin supplement. Turmeric supplement when combined with some herbal ingredients reduced knee pains caused by osteoarthritis considerably.

The supplements of curcumin and turmeric were however not very effective in cases such as stomach ulcers and skin conditions related to radiation in cancer treatments. People that suffered from these health conditions were administered these supplements and report showed they were not really affected by curcumin and turmeric supplements.

There were reports of turmeric supplement handling cases like Alzheimer’s disease, eye inflammation (anterior uveitis), skin rashes (Lichen planus), tuberculosis, skin cancer, acne, jaundice, hepatitis, headache, ringworm, fibromyalgia, ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammation in the mouth and/or esophagus from radiation treatment, prostate cancer, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), joint pain, stomach upset, stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection; but there are no subsidiary evidences to support these claims.

SIDE EFFECTS

A report showed that when turmeric supplement was taken over 1500 mg twice daily an unusual heart rate was experienced. There was however no solid proof as to whether the abnormal rate was due to the intake of turmeric supplement.

Turmeric used in cooking does not have the same weight in grams as those taken in medicinal quantities, therefore, their effects are quite negligible and not noticed.

Some side effects that were encountered during the use of turmeric and curcumin supplements in medicinal quantity were stomach upset, queasiness, lightheadedness, or diarrhea.

APPROPRIATE DOSAGE

To efficiently get the maximum health benefits of turmeric curcumin supplements, the following dosage for some listed health conditions is advised by an official report. In hayfever condition, 500 mg of curcumin supplement should be taken orally daily for 2 months.

In the treatment of high cholesterol, 1.4 grams of turmeric supplement should be divided into two doses and consumed within three months.

In the cases of depression, 500 mg of turmeric curcumin supplement should be taken twice daily. It can be taken alone or along with 20 mg of fluoxetine daily, for six to eight weeks.

Itching problems could be medically handled using 1500 mg of turmeric supplement. This turmeric powder or supplement should be divided into three doses and given daily for eight weeks.

In children with high cholesterol, 1.4 grams of turmeric extract powder should be divided into two doses and administered daily for three months to children from the ages of fifteen years and upward.

Note however, that turmeric has the ability to slow clotting and in turn enhance bleeding in bruises. So, in cases of surgery and bruises, contact your health care provider for the right dosage.

OCCASSIONS TO AVOID TURMERIC AND CURCUMIN

Turmeric is mostly safe to take when found in little quantity in food since the weight usually used in food is almost negligible. However, it is advised to avoid the use of turmeric or curcumin supplement in medicinal amount during pregnancy or while breast feeding. Turmeric slows down blood clotting and can cause bleeding or miscarriage during pregnancy when taken in medicinal quantity.

The herb should be avoided in health conditions such as gall bladder problems, bleeding problems, diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease, breast cancer, uterine cancer, uterine fibroid and ovarian cancer, iron deficiency, surgery, infertility. High intake of turmeric can lower testosterone, reduce the movement of sperm, slow down blood clotting and also cause shortage of iron in the blood.

CONCLUSION

Turmeric supplement has for thousands of years been effective in the treatment of inflammations, digestive problems and bacterial infections. Even with the special attention given to curcumin, there is no official agreement on the best supplement to take between curcumin and turmeric. Studies were extensively made using extracted turmeric with curcumin in high concentration and also with curcumin alone and it was discovered that both almost did the same work health wise.

Series of research carried out on turmeric shows that it has key benefits for the body and the brain and it is about the most efficient natural supplement in the existence of man.

 

Magnesium Supplement

Magnesium is a mineral abundant in the body and many foods. It is also used as a dietary supplement and in some drugs like anti-acids. Roughly 60% of magnesium in the body exists in the bones and the rest in the blood vessels, soft tissues, and other body fluids.

magnesium-rich foods

Within the body, it plays a significant role in more than 300 enzymatic reactions like fatty acid synthesis and protein synthesis. It is also vital for normal bone structure formation and blood pressure regulation. Other functions include glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, and production of energy necessary for metabolic functions. Magnesium is also vital in DNA and RNA synthesis and synthesis of glutathione.

In addition, it is required for the active transport of ions like calcium and potassium across the cell membrane which is vital for the construction of muscles, maintaining normal heart rhythm and normal conduction of nerve impulses. Normal levels of magnesium concentrations are between 0.75 and 0.95 mill moles per liter. Levels below 0.75mmol/l induce a condition referred to as hypomagnesia. To prevent this condition, magnesium should be orally ingested by consuming food rich in magnesium. Foods with high fiber content generally contain high levels of magnesium.

The human body contains about 25g of magnesium. However, assessing the level of magnesium in the body can be challenging since most of it is found in the bones and cells. In addition, the level of magnesium in the serum is not a representation of the amount of magnesium in the body. Despite this fact, the serum concentration of magnesium is the most used method to assess magnesium status. Other methods of assessment of magnesium levels include measuring the concentration of magnesium in the saliva, urine, and erythrocytes. Ionized magnesium levels in the blood, serum, and plasma can also be used. In addition, a magnesium self-tolerance test can be performed. None of these methods is considered adequate, but some researchers have recommended the use of the self-tolerance test in adults. This test involves infusion of a magnesium dose through a parenteral route and then measuring the level of magnesium in the urine.

The recommended magnesium dosage

Experts in the United States found that Americans were not consuming enough magnesium in their foods, which made them susceptible to inflammation and health conditions like diabetes and osteoporosis. The food and nutrition board (FNB) developed a reference for dietary intake recommendations for different nutrients. The recommended dietary intake levels range from sex and age. For instance, the recommended dietary allowance for babies under six months is 30mg for both males and females, and for children between one to three years is 80 mg. Different amounts are recommended for different adults. Adults between nineteen and thirty years should take 310 mg for females and 400 mg for male. Older adults above 50 years should take 420 mg for males and 320 mg for females.

Magnesium deficiency in healthy people is usually asymptomatic since the kidneys do not allow total excretion of magnesium. However, some illnesses can cause excessive magnesium loss. Such conditions include chronic alcoholism, third-degree burns, hypercalcemia, polyuria, chronic diarrhea, hyperaldosteronism, malabsorption syndromes like psyllium disease, malnutrition, and inflammatory bowel syndrome. In addition, medication such as proton pump inhibitors aminoglycosides, cyclosporine, diuretics, amphotericin, cisplatin can cause hypomagnesemia. Early signs of hypomagnesemia include fatigue and weakness, vomiting, nausea and loss of appetite.

Exacerbation of the disease causes serious symptoms like seizures, muscle cramps, numbness, muscle contractions, abnormal heart rhythms, tingling, and even coronary spasms. Other serious signs include tetany, personality changes, and anorexia. Severe hypomagnesemia is a risk factor for hypokalemia and hypocalcemia.

Clinical uses of magnesium

Magnesium is effective for the treatment of:

Indigestion

Oral intake of magnesium reduces symptoms of heartburn. Most people use over the counter medication like magnesium citrate or magnesium hydroxide to treat constipation. However, research into the effectiveness of magnesium in relieving symptoms of constipation is minimal. Despite this, patients and healthcare professionals have found magnesium useful in treating constipation proving that the lack of evidence does not mean the lack of effect.

Eclampsia and Preeclampsia

The WHO strongly recommends the use of magnesium sulfate regiments for the prevention and treatment of eclampsia. Intravenous or intramuscular administration of magnesium sulfate has proven effective in preventing seizures in mild and severe preeclampsia. It has also been used to enhancing lung development in babies. However, there is a risk of magnesium toxicity which can prove fatal. Two reviews by Cochrane stated that the use of magnesium in eclampsia provided better results than the use of phenytoin and lytic cocktail and Nimotop. Another review in 2003 revealed that. Intravenous use of 1 to 2 grams per hour of magnesium sulfate reduced risk of eclampsia and preeclampsia in pregnant women by more than 50%.

Arrhythmia

An arrhythmia is an irregular pattern with which the heart beats. The condition can be classified as either tachycardia which describes very fast heartbeat or bradycardia which is a slower than normal heartbeat. Intravenous administration of magnesium is often used to treat ventricular tachycardia of torsade de pointes. Research has also shown that intravenous administration of 1.2 to 10 grams of magnesium sulfate is effective for the treatment of rapid atrial fibrillation. A study by Guerrera, Volte and Mao, (2009) found that magnesium which is taken orally as a supplement by patients with congestive heart failure, secondary to coronary artery disease reduced the occurrence of asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmias.

Relieving Headaches

Low levels of magnesium have been found to cause cluster headaches, classic migraines, and migraines caused by menstruation. A study conducted in Germany found that oral intake of a single dose of 600mg of tri-magnesium dinitrate was effective in reducing the number of times that a migraine occurred. Intravenous magnesium sulfate is also an effective treatment of migraines in patients with aura and improved associated symptoms in patients without aura.

Asthma

Asthma is a long-term incurable disease with a range of treatments for the management of its symptoms. Magnesium sulfate is used to release symptoms such as shortness of breath since it acts as a Bronchodilator. The drug is mostly used to treat severe symptoms of asthma and is administered either intravenously as an infusion and sometimes can be inhaled through a nebulizer. A review by Cochrane found that the magnesium sulfate was effective in the management of severe acute asthma by improving expiratory flow rate and volume.

Dyspepsia

Dyspepsia is one of the main symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The most common treatment for dyspepsia is antacids. However, several studies reveal that treatment using magnesium as a component in the antacids is more effective. For instance, Holtmeier et al. (2007) found that antacid hydrotalcite which contains magnesium hydroxide significantly relieved heartburn within three hours.

People at risk of magnesium deficiency

Magnesium deficiency mostly occurs due to the presence of medical conditions that cause reduced absorption of magnesium in the digestive system or increase in the loss of magnesium. Some of the people who are at risk include:

People with gastrointestinal disorders

GI disorders like Crohn’s disease cause fat malabsorption and diarrhea which lead to depletion of magnesium in the body. Other disorders with the same effect include celiac disease and regional enteritis. Also, resection of ileum causes malabsorption and subsequent loss of magnesium.

People with chronic alcoholism.

Alcohol dependence is one of the main causes of magnesium deficiency. People with chronic alcoholism usually have a poor nutritional status that leads to GI disorders including vomiting and diarrhea. Moreover, alcohol dependence causes renal dysfunction that leads to excess excretion of magnesium in the urine. Other alcohol-related conditions that cause magnesium deficiency include acute alcoholic ketoacidosis, hyperaldosteronism from liver disease, pancreatitis, and vitamin D deficiency.

People with type two diabetes

Insulin resistance presents a risk for increased magnesium excretion through the urine and subsequent magnesium deficiency. High glucose concentrations in the kidney are suspected to be the cause of increased magnesium loss as they lead to increased urine output.

The elderly

Generally, older people consume less than recommended amounts of magnesium which predisposes them to magnesium deficiency. Furthermore, as one becomes older absorption from the gut decreases and so does excretion from the renal system. This leads to reduced magnesium absorption and increased renal excretion of magnesium. In addition, chronic diseases that are more prevalent in the elderly increase risk of magnesium depletion due to the large number of medication that they take which has the potential to alter magnesium absorption in the body.

Conclusion

It is evident that magnesium is essential for one’s health and wellbeing. The best source of magnesium is through dietary sources; consumption of foods high in fiber or magnesium supplements. Old age, medications and certain medical condition are the main risk factors for hypomagnesemia. It is therefore important to identify the cause of low magnesium levels in the body. Although magnesium supplement is well tolerated, they can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea. In additions, Magnesium overdose can lead to hypotension, respiratory depression, and sometimes death. It is thus paramount for correct dosages to be administered in patients with hypomagnesemia.

References

JUN JAMES MAO, MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia,   Pennsylvania Am Fam Physician. 2009 Jul 15;80(2):157-162.

Holtmeier W, Holtmann G, Caspary WF and Weingartner U. On-demand treatment of acute       heartburn with the antacid hdrotalcite compared with famotidine and placebo: randomized     double-blind cross-over study. (2007) Journal of clinical gastroenterology. 41(6) 564-570

Melatonin

This article will explain in clear details – what melatonin is, uses of melatonin, side effects/risks, and dosage.

melatonin sleep aid

WHAT’S MELATONIN?

Naturally, melatonin is present in the body serving the purpose of regulating night and day cycles or rather sleep-wake cycles. Light and darkness both determine the level of melatonin production in the body. Darkness stimulates the production of more melatonin in the body; this gets the body ready for sleep. Light, on the other hand, causes a decrease in melatonin production; this inversely triggers the body to wake up. Melatonin is also synthesized in the laboratory and comes in pill form and other forms that can be placed in the cheek or under the tongue.

It’s a fact based on research finding that some people who suffer insomnia (inability to sleep) run low on melatonin. In a bid to counter these sleeping disorder physicians recommend the addition of melatonin from supplements to insomnia patients. Melatonin is also useful in helping blind people keep track of a day and night cycle, used for jet lag, and the adjustment of the body’s internal clock. In a synthetic form melatonin can be administered orally, thus, is directly absorbed into the body this way. Melatonin is also referred to as 5-Methoxy-N-Acetyltryptamine, MEL, Melatonin, Mélatonine, MLT, N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, N-Acétyl-5-Méthoxytryptamine, Pineal Hormone. Naturally, melatonin is very vital in the body as it is in medicine when applied in the various synthetic forms it exists, in the treatment of quite a number of health-related conditions among others.

USES OF MELATONIN

According to WebMD Melatonin can be administered orally in its synthetic form to treat or control some health-related conditions such as:

  • “Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS)
  • Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD)I
  • Insomnia associated with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder(ADHD)
  • Insomnia associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Sleep problem in children with developmental disorders including autism, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disabilities.
  • It is also taken by mouth as a sleep aid after discontinuing the use of benzodiazepine drugs and to reduce the side effects of stopping smoking.
  • It’s used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease or memory loss (dementia)
  • Treatment of the bipolar disorder
  • Lung disease is known as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Insomnia caused by beta-blocker drugs, high blood pressure, hyper-pigmentation (darkened skin)
  • Endometriosis
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Depression or seasoned affective disorder (SAD)
  • Mild mental impairment
  • Nonalcoholic liver disease
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
  • Fibromyalgia- this is a disorder that causes a strong urge to move one’s legs. It’s also called restless legs syndrome.
  • Inflammatory disease called sarcoidosis
  • Schizophrenia
  • Migraine and other headaches
  • Age-related vision loss
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Bone loss (osteoporosis)
  • Movement disorder
  • Acid reflux disease
  • Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
  • Exercise performance
  • Infertility
  • Epilepsy
  • Aging
  • Menopause
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Anxiety before and after surgery
  • Recovery after surgery
  • Agitation caused by anesthesia drugs
  • Stress
  • Involuntary movement disorder (tardive dyskinesia)
  • Changes in heart rate when you move from laying down to sitting up (postural tachycardia syndrome)
  • Delirium
  • Inability to control urination
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis)
  • Used in birth control
  • Breast cancer
  • Brain cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Head cancer
  • Neck cancer
  • Gastrointestinal cancer
  • Melatonin is also taken by mouth to prevent some of the side effects of radiation and/or cancer treatment (chemotherapy)
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Dry mouth
  • Weight loss
  • Nerve pain
  • Weakness
  • Lowered number of clot-forming cells (thrombocytopenia).” 

SIDE EFFECTS AND RISKS OF MELATONIN

Melatonin is a commercial success due to its vast applications in health-related conditions. The various uses of melatonin reflect its merits or pros but on the flip side also, melatonin poses some side effects or cons. Melatonin is considered safe for most adults when administered via mouth or injection or even applied to the skin.

Melatonin application on a long term basis is also safe; some people have been reported to use melatonin for up to 2 years. However, some side effects may occur such as headache, bouts of depression, daytime sleepiness, dizziness, stomach cramps, and irritability. Advisably it isn’t ideal to operate any type of mechanical equipment for over four hours after taking melatonin dosage. It is strongly advised that melatonin is administered under the supervision of a health care professional.

A quick delve into some of the side effects and some possible risks associated with the use of melatonin:

  • Pregnant women and lactating nursing mothers could be at risk by injecting or orally administering melatonin into the body because it could interfere with ovulation, thus, making conception difficult. Therefore it is advised that women in these categories do not take melatonin. Risks associated with the use of melatonin in lactating nursing mothers remain somewhat sketchy.
  • In growing children, melatonin might interfere with development during adolescence because it poses negative effects on hormones. Though melatonin may be taken as a single dose it would also post a risk to children when taken in multiple doses on a short-term basis.
  • Melatonin is not good for patients battling bleeding disorders. Melatonin could actually worsen bleeding in such patients.
  • Tackling depression and taking doses of melatonin will not help matters. Melatonin actually makes the symptoms of depression worse. People battling depression should avoid taking melatonin.
  • Individuals battling diabetes mellitus should steer clear of melatonin. This is because it could raise blood sugar. However, it’s ideal that people who are diabetic should closely monitor their blood sugar if they also take melatonin.
  • Those who are managing the condition of high blood pressure are also strongly advised to steer clear of melatonin as it can raise blood pressure.
  • Melatonin is believed to increase the risk of having seizures. Individuals battling seizure disorders should avoid melatonin.
  • Melatonin could counter the efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy which is used by people receiving transplants. Melatonin increases immune function which explains why it isn’t good for transplant recipients.

MELATONIN DOSAGE

The use of melatonin is not restricted to a certain age bracket(s) given that adults and children alike do use melatonin in therapeutic treatments of various health conditions. However, taking the right dosage according to a physician’s description and under the supervision of a health care professional is strongly advised to be on the safe side. Below is a breakdown.

ADULTS (oral dosage)

Melatonin can be administered orally to manage sleep disorders in blind people. The right dosage is from 0.5mg to 5mg daily before bedtime. Melatonin can be used in this case over a 5 year period. More so taking a high dose of melatonin of 10mg an hour before bedtime for over 8 weeks can be applied to manage this condition.

3 to 5mg of melatonin can be taken for up to 9 months in managing insomnia.

People who have sleep-wake cycle disturbances can use melatonin at bedtime for up to 4 weeks. Dosage is 2-12mg.

10mg of melatonin can be taken daily for 8 weeks when treating endometriosis.

2-3mg of controlled-release of melatonin can be taken for 4 weeks when managing high blood pressure.

For jet lag, 0.5-8 mg of melatonin at bedtime is commonly taken on the day of arrival at the destination, continuing for 2 to 5 days. Low doses of 0.5-3 mg are often used to avoid the side effects of the higher doses.

3-10 mg of melatonin taken 60-90 minutes before surgery is used to reduce anxiety before surgery.

Melatonin is used for the treatment of solid tumor as a complementary therapy to conventional therapy. 10-40mg of melatonin can be taken daily for a two month period.

Jaw pain can be treated using melatonin in the right dosage of 5mg at bedtime for 4 weeks.

Thrombocytopenia (lowered clot-forming cells) is treated using melatonin daily for up to 7 days before starting and throughout chemotherapy cycles. 20-40mg of melatonin should be administered. 

ADULTS (intravenous dosage)

When treating solid tumors, melatonin is administered together with conventional therapy. 20mg of melatonin should be intravenously taking for 2 months and thereafter should be taken orally of 10mg dosage.  

ADULTS (skin application and under the tongue) 

A gel containing 0.05% to 2.5% of melatonin should be applied 15 minutes before exposure to the sun (prevent sunburn). However, in the case of treating actual sunburn, the same dosage should be applied for up to 4 hours after sunburn.

Melatonin is used to reduce anxiety before surgery.5mg or 0.05-0.2mg/kg of body weight is taken 90-100 minutes before anesthesia.  

CHILDREN (oral dosage)

1-6mg of melatonin should be taken before bedtime for up to one month.

Children and adolescents within the age bracket of (3 months to 18 years) who have sleeping problems like sleep-wake cycle disturbances can take melatonin daily for up to 12 weeks. The right dosage is 0.5-12mg.

In children, melatonin is used to treat primary. 5 mg or 0.05-0.15 mg/kg of body weight taken at bedtime for 4 weeks has been used in children 6-12 years-old with primary insomnia.

For secondary insomnia: 6-9 mg of melatonin taken before bedtime for 4 weeks, has been used in children with seizures 3-12 years-old. 

Melatonin is administered orally in children to reduce anxiety before surgery.05-0.5 mg/kg of body weight has been taken before anesthesia in children 1-8 years-old.

WRAP UP

Melatonin naturally exists in the body and its primary purpose is to regulate the sleep-wake cycles during the day and night respectively. Melatonin is also synthesized in the laboratory and comes commonly in forms that can be administered orally, and intravenously. Melatonin is more or less a control substance and comes in handy in the field of medicine for managing and treating health-related conditions.