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.

Magnesium found to be effective for mild-to-moderate depression symptoms

Magnesium is effective for mild-to-moderate depression in adults, research has found.

From BetterYou Ltd 27 Mar 2018

Study suggests bright lights inhibit the production of melatonin in preschoolers

A new study has found that exposure to bright light before bed time inhibits the production of sleep-promoting hormone, melatonin, in preschoolers.

6 Mar 2018

Research explores hormonal impact of nighttime light exposure on young children

Exposing preschoolers to an hour of bright light before bedtime almost completely shuts down their production of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin and keeps it suppressed for at least 50 minutes after lights out, according to new University of Colorado Boulder research.

6 Mar 2018

BetterYou supports Mantality initiative to improve men’s mental health and wellbeing

Natural health company BetterYou gave its support to the first ever Mantality retreat in Leeds last month – an initiative which encourages men to speak up about mental health issues and live more complete lives.

From BetterYou Ltd 7 Feb 2018

Sunlight exposure may help lose weight

Putting on extra kilos during winters has been blamed on holiday treats and less physical activity. Now a new study shows that less exposure to be the key to putting on the weight. A sunny vacation might help lose that extra weight say researchers at University of Alberta in Canada. The study appeared in the journal Scientific Reports.

11 Jan 2018

Amber-tinted glasses may reduce insomnia severity

How do you unwind before bedtime? If your answer involves Facebook and Netflix, you are actively reducing your chance of a good night's sleep.

15 Dec 2017

Researchers test orange light treatment at emergency psychiatric care

Can orange light therapy help people who have serious mental disorders? Who hear voices and see things that aren't there? Or who are thinking about committing suicide?

7 Dec 2017

New oxytocin chemical sensor could be first step towards early diagnosis of autism

Is it going to be possible to detect features of autism at birth? At the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw a sensor has come into being that means this may become a reality.

16 Nov 2017

Children, adolescents mainly vulnerable to sleep-disrupting effects of screen time

With their brains, sleep patterns, and eyes still developing, children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the sleep-disrupting effects of screen time, according to a sweeping review of the literature published in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics.

2 Nov 2017

Montmorency tart cherry juice found to help extend sleep time among adults 50 years and older

Montmorency tart cherry juice was found to help extend sleep time by 84 minutes among eight study participants, ages 50 and older who suffer from insomnia, according to a new pilot study published in American Journal of Therapeutics.

28 Oct 2017

Smell sensitivity changes over the course of each day, study suggests

It has always been apparent that some individuals have a better sense of smell than others, but a new study of 37 teens provides the first direct evidence that within each person, smell sensitivity varies over the course of each day. The pattern, according to the data, tracks with the body's internal day-night cycle, or circadian rhythm.

26 Oct 2017

Researchers evaluate potential of stem cells, therapeutic agents in neurodegenerative diseases

As the brain has limited capability for self-repair or regeneration, stem cells may represent the best therapeutic approach for counteracting damage to or degeneration of brain tissue caused by injury, aging, or disease.

24 Oct 2017

Researchers discover circadian clock at work in our muscles

Biological clocks are ticking everywhere throughout our body. They trigger the release of the hormone melatonin during sleep, favour the secretion of digestive enzymes at lunchtime or keep us awake at the busiest moments of the day.

3 Oct 2017

Without price breaks, rural hospitals struggle to stock costly, lifesaving drugs

Hospital pharmacist Mandy Langston remembers when Lulabelle Berry arrived at Stone County Medical Center's emergency department last year.

18 Sep 2017

Food intake during later circadian timing plays important role in body composition

Weight gain and obesity has been described as an epidemic and a complex problem in the United States. Previous research has linked poor diet to weight gain and high body fat, and eating later in the day has also been described as a risk factor for weight gain; however, the impact of an individual's body clock, independent of the time of day of food consumption, has not been explored.

8 Sep 2017

Scientists propose new theory that ADHD may be linked to lack of regular circadian sleep

Around 75% of children and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) also have sleep problems, but until now these have been thought to be separate issues.

4 Sep 2017

Researchers reveal therapeutic benefits of melatonin for treating blood cancers

Researchers have examined the potential benefits of melatonin, a hormone made by a small gland in the brain, for treating blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.

1 Sep 2017

Study finds link between outdoor light at night and breast cancer risk

Women who live in areas with higher levels of outdoor light at night may be at higher risk for breast cancer than those living in areas with lower levels, according to a large long-term study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The link was stronger among women who worked night shifts.

17 Aug 2017

Blue light from digital devices decreases sleep quality

There's no doubt we love our digital devices at all hours, including after the sun goes down. Who hasn't snuggled up with a smart phone, tablet or watched their flat screen TV from the comfort of bed? A new study by researchers at the University of Houston College of Optometry, published in Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics, found that blue light emitted from those devices could contribute to the high prevalence of reported sleep dysfunction.

28 Jul 2017

Study sheds light on night work−cancer link

A new study has offered insights into the association between night shift work and increased cancer risk, as well as pointing towards a potential solution. For several years, scientists have thought that disruption to the body’s natural circadian rhythm is accountable for the increased cancer risk, but the mechanisms behind this have not yet been pinpointed.

27 Jun 2017