"Melatonin: The Facts".One of the best-selling dietary supplements on the market today is melatonin melatonin: see pineal gland. melatonin Hormone secreted by the pineal gland of most vertebrates. It appears to be important in regulating sleeping cycles; more is produced at night, and test subjects injected with it become sleepy. . Manufacturers claim that taking melatonin supplements can help improve your sleep, counteract the effects of jet lag jet lag Period of adjustment of biological rhythm after moving from one time zone to another, experienced as fatigue and lowered efficiency. It reflects a delay in the synchronization of changes in the level of blood cortisol, the major steroid produced by the adrenal cortex , boost your immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. , prevent colds, and improve your mood. Others report that taking the supplement can result in depression, constriction constriction /con·stric·tion/ (kon-strik´shun) 1. a narrowing or compression of a part; a stricture.constric´tive 2. a diminution in range of thinking or feeling, associated with diminished spontaneity. of the arteries to the heart, and possible effects on fertility. All the claims and counterclaims make it difficult to know the truth. Now the National Sleep Foundation has released "Melatonin: The Facts," a new brochure discussing in easy-to-understand language what is known about the substance ... and what isn't. It also makes clear that while more studies are needed about melatonin, safe and effective treatments do exist for insomnia, jet lag, and other sleep disorders Sleep Disorders Definition Sleep disorders are a group of syndromes characterized by disturbance in the patient's amount of sleep, quality or timing of sleep, or in behaviors or physiological conditions associated with sleep. . Free single copies of the brochure "Melatonin: The Facts" are available by sending a 55-cent stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelope to: National Sleep Foundation, 729 15th Street, NW., 4th Floor, Dept. MB, Washington, D.C. 20005. The brochure's text is also available on the foundation's website at www.sleepfoundation.org. |
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