Melatonin News and Research

RSS

Melatonin, also known chemically as N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, is a naturally occurring compound found in animals, plants, and microbes. In animals, circulating levels of the hormone melatonin vary in a daily cycle, thereby allowing the entrainment of the circadian rhythms of several biological functions.

Vanda presents additional data from tasimelteon Phase III studies at ENDO 2013

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. presented additional data today at ENDO 2013, the Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting, demonstrating that tasimelteon can entrain (synchronize) both melatonin and cortisol rhythms.

18 Jun 2013

Study: Individuals with ASDs show decrease metabolism of amino acid L-tryptophan

Researchers at the JC Self Research Institute of the Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC), along with collaborators from Biolog, Inc. in California, have reported an important discovery in the understanding of autism which was published this week in Molecular Autism.

7 Jun 2013

Vanda reports clinical data of tasimelteon Phase III studies for treatment of Non-24-Hour Disorder

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. presented additional entrainment and patient-level clinical data at SLEEP 2013, the 27th Annual Meeting of Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Baltimore, from its SET (Safety and Efficacy of Tasimelteon) and RESET (Randomized-withdrawal study of the Efficacy and Safety of Tasimelteon to treat Non-24-Hour Disorder) Phase III studies of tasimelteon, a circadian regulator for the treatment of Non-24-Hour Disorder (Non-24) in totally blind individuals.

6 Jun 2013

Lowering light setting, holding phone several inches from face help in-bed use, study suggests

Smartphones and tablets can make for sleep-disrupting bedfellows. One cause is believed to be the bright light-emitting diodes that allow the use of mobile devices in dimly lit rooms; the light exposure can interfere with melatonin, a hormone that helps control the natural sleep-wake cycle. But there may be a way to check your mobile device in bed and still get a good night's sleep.

4 Jun 2013

Vanda Pharmaceuticals announces submission of tasimelteon NDA to FDA

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced the submission of a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for tasimelteon, a circadian regulator.

31 May 2013

Choosing better sunglasses to protect kids' eyes from damaging rays

Summer months are just on the horizon bringing wonderful warm days filled with sunshine. For most parents, sending kids outside to play includes lathering them with sunscreen to protect their skin from too much of the sun's UVA and UVB rays, but what about protecting their children's eyes?

31 May 2013

Study: Melatonin delays symptom onset, reduces mortality in mouse model of ALS

Melatonin injections delayed symptom onset and reduced mortality in a mouse model of the neurodegenerative condition amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

25 Apr 2013

Researchers find association between melatonin, type 2 diabetes

With previous evidence suggesting that melatonin may have a role in glucose metabolism, researchers have found an independent association between decreased secretion of melatonin and an increased risk for the development of type 2 diabetes, according to a study in the April 3 issue of JAMA.

3 Apr 2013

Sunny regions with high solar intensity have lower prevalence of ADHD, study finds

A study published today in Biological Psychiatry sheds new light on the increasing rates (prevalence) of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD.

26 Mar 2013

Columbia University Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital present research works at AAN meeting

The following research from Columbia University Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is being presented at the 65th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, March 16-23, 2013, in San Diego.

18 Mar 2013

Positive results from Neurim’s Piromelatine phase II study on insomnia

Neurim Pharmaceuticals announced today positive results from a phase II clinical study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Piromelatine (Neu-P11), a novel investigational multimodal sleep medicine developed for the treatment of patients with primary and co-morbid insomnia.

18 Feb 2013

University of Granada’s melatonin gel effective against mucositis

Mucositis is one of the most frequent side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in cancer patients and currently cannot be treated. Investigators at the University of Granada have patented a melatonin gel that is 100% effective against this inflammatory reaction.

15 Feb 2013

Northwestern Medicine expert offers tips to battle seasonal affective disorder

Winter is in full force. With short days and less exposure to sunlight, everyone feels less energetic and more people are vulnerable to depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), or winter depression, is a mood disorder related to seasonal variations of light. Symptoms start in late fall and oftentimes last until April or early spring. It affects between 10 to 20 percent of Americans, primarily younger adults and women.

10 Feb 2013

Melatonin viable alternative for REM sleep behavior disorder treatment

Clonazepam and melatonin appear to be equally effective for the treatment of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder symptoms, although melatonin may be better tolerated, a naturalistic clinical study shows.

8 Feb 2013

Top-line results from Vanda's tasimelteon Phase IIb/III study on major depressive disorder

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced top-line results of the Phase IIb/III clinical study (MAGELLAN) in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), investigating the efficacy and safety of tasimelteon as a monotherapy in the treatment of patients with MDD.

31 Jan 2013

Musical tones can reset the brain and effectively reduce insomnia

If you are among the 50 percent of Americans who suffer from insomnia, then you have probably tried everything – from warm milk to melatonin pills or prescription medications to induce sleep – with varying degrees of success and side effects. But what if sleep could be achieved not by a substance, but through 'balancing' brain activity?

21 Nov 2012

Melatonin improves sleep in children with neurodevelopmental disorders

Melatonin increases the length of time spent asleep and reduces the time it takes to get to sleep for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, compared with placebo, show study results published in the British Medical Journal.

9 Nov 2012

Exposure to short-wavelength blue light enhances CAR in sleep deprived adolescents

Adolescents can be chronically sleep deprived because of their inability to fall asleep early in combination with fixed wakeup times on school days. According to the CDC, almost 70 percent of school children get insufficient sleep—less than 8 hours on school nights.

23 Oct 2012

Night work can increase risk of cancer in men

Night work can increase cancer risk in men, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology by a research team from Centre INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier and Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Universit- de Montr-al.

16 Oct 2012

Melatonin supplementation improves sleep in hypertensive patients on beta-blockers

Over 20 million people in the United States take beta-blockers, a medication commonly prescribed for cardiovascular issues, anxiety, hypertension and more. Many of these same people also have trouble sleeping, a side effect possibly related to the fact that these medications suppress night-time melatonin production. Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have found that melatonin supplementation significantly improved sleep in hypertensive patients taking beta-blockers.

28 Sep 2012