Melatonin News and Research

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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.

Mount Sinai launches new mobile precision wellness iPhone app

Have you ever wondered whether your double latte really helps you function better in that early-morning meeting? Or if melatonin truly gives you better sleep at night? Now there's a way to find out, thanks to a new mobile precision wellness iPhone app developed at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

4 Nov 2019

Melatonin may not help prevent delirium following major cardiac surgery

Delirium is observed in approximately 15% of hospitalized older adults, and it is more common in the critically ill and in those undergoing major surgery, such as heart surgery.

9 Oct 2019

Melatonin promises to help reduce bone loss in space flight

New research suggests that the problem of bone loss caused by microgravity conditions in space flight may be successfully treated using the time-tested drug melatonin. Melatonin increases the level of calcitonin in bone, which suppresses the bone-destroying activity of osteoclastic cells and helps maintain bone density.

4 Sep 2019

Advanced sleep phase may affect at least 1 in 300 adults, study reveals

A quirk of the body clock that lures some people to sleep at 8 p.m., enabling them to greet the new day as early as 4 a.m., may be significantly more common than previously believed.

6 Aug 2019

Researchers discover 'mystical' psychedelic compound in normal brains

In the past few years, thrill-seekers from Hollywood, Silicon Valley and beyond have been travelling to South America to take part in so-called Ayahuasca retreats.

27 Jun 2019

Why sleeping with the TV on could cause weight gain

Exposure to artificial light at night while sleeping may be a risk factor for weight gain and the development of obesity, say researchers.

11 Jun 2019

Exposure to artificial light at bedtime linked with weight gain in women

Sleeping with a television or light on in the room may be a risk factor for gaining weight or developing obesity, according to scientists at the National Institutes of Health.

11 Jun 2019

Study shows connection between poor sleep and poor nutrition

Many Americans get less than the recommended amount of sleep, and many do not consume the recommended amounts of important vitamins and minerals. A new study suggests the two factors may be connected.

10 Jun 2019

Limiting exposure to blue-light emitting devices can improve sleep in teens

Sleep in teenagers can be improved by just one week of limiting their evening exposure to light-emitting screens on phones, tablets and computers, according to findings to be presented in Lyon, at the European Society of Endocrinology annual meeting, ECE 2019.

20 May 2019

Hormonal plants? Uncovering the melatonin biosynthesis pathway using a novel LC-MS technique

Researchers have devised a sensitive and accurate analytical LC-MS technique for the seven metabolites in the melatonin biosynthesis pathway of rice shoots.

7 May 2019

Scientists develop maps of two melatonin receptors vital for sleep, other biological processes

An international team of researchers used an X-ray laser at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory to create the first detailed maps of two melatonin receptors that tell our bodies when to go to sleep or wake up and guide other biological processes.

26 Apr 2019

Circadian rhythm plays a part in weight loss

Weight watchers worldwide need to not only be careful about what to eat but also about the timing of the food intake finds a new study.

26 Apr 2019

Morning exercise may burn more calories

Exercising in the morning rather than in the evening may be more beneficial to health, as research shows that morning exercise burns more carbohydrates.

19 Apr 2019

Exposure to dim light at night may contribute to spread of breast cancer to bones

Exposure to dim light at night, which is common in today's lifestyle, may contribute to the spread of breast cancer to the bones, researchers have shown for the first time in an animal study.

25 Mar 2019

Loyola expert recommends powering down smart phones to get a good night's sleep

To get a good night's sleep, turn off your smartphone at least 30 minutes before going to bed, says Loyola Medicine sleep specialist Sunita Kumar, MD, in recognition of Sleep Awareness Week, March 11 – 17.

11 Mar 2019

Relationship between circadian misalignment and cardiovascular risk in women

In the current issue of Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications (Special Issue on Women's Cardiovascular Health, Volume 3, Number 4, 2019, Guest Editor Gladys P. Velarde) pp. 435-440(6); DOI: https://doi.org/10.15212/CVIA.2017.0070 Tracy Ashby, DO and Mariam Louis, MD, MSc, FCCP from the University of Florida, Department of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL, USA consider circadian misalignment and cardiovascular risk.

1 Mar 2019