pt.advised to try melatonin supplement orally to ease jet l

[one4un14me]

28yo businessman who flies regularly between London and California was advised to try melatonin supplement orally to ease jet lag symptoms. After 3 week trial, he admits to some improvement. Which of the following is true about melatonin?

A. it improves jet lag symptoms by its unique mild sedative effect
B. it is a natural hormone that is secreted by anterior pituitary gland
C. increased melanin production with grey skin pigmentation might be associated with prolonged melatonin use in humans
D. its endogenous levels are dramatically reduced on exposure to intense artificial light
E. prolonged use of melatonin might be associated with progeria (early ageing)

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D.

Melatonin is a naturally occuring hormone released by the pineal gland. Melatonin levels respond to an individual's natural circadian rhythms by increasing late in the afternoon/early evening and decreasing dramatically during the day. Light exposure, either natural or artificial, causes extremely rapid destruction of the hormone. It has long been assumed that melatonin is responsible for sleep regulation, though the exact mechanism of action remains unknown. Melatonin is able to help shift your body clock to earlier or later times. For example, when travelling eastwards you need to sleep, eat and work earlier than in your home time zone and when traveling westwards you need to sleep, eat and work later. It also reinforces the effects of darkness by increasing sleepiness, decreasing alertness and lowering your temperature slightly. It is not a sedative but has hypnotic properties. Melatonin can induce sleep at the correct time and is used in individuals with jet lag symdrome, and for insomnia in blind or elderly people and shift workers.

Melatonin can cause alteration in melanin pigment distribution in animals. Although such cutaneous effects of melatonin are seen in a variety of 'lower species', the hormone does not have such effects in mammals or birds. Melatonin might have anti-ageing effects. Levels of melatonin are, on average, double in young people than what they are in people in their 50's. It is an antioxidant, like vitamin C and E, which neutralise dangerous melocules known as free radicals, which might be responsible for ageing process.

[brian]

I found that melatonin works for me. I always have trouble sleeping on the plan, so sometimes I'm awake for like 48 hours if I'm flying to Asia!

Now, if I’m taking a long flight, I suck on one or two melatonin drops about 30 minutes before when it would be my bedtime at my destination. Or I if I’m on the ground, I eat one just before bedtime. That seems to reset my clock.

I tried sub-lingual pills, but it is uncomfortable for me to holding anything under my tongue. I found some Melatonin drops from FBSHealth: I let them dissolve in my mouth. They taste pretty good: like milk candy, actually.

I travel a lot so I just keep some on me in my wallet (they are individually wrapped), so I don’t forget to bring them. Also, I don't have to dig them out of my carry on, or I don’t need to ask for water or anything when I’m on the plane, which is a hassle.

So far, I've only found them online.