Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by our body. It mainly originates in our brain in a rhythmic way. When night falls and our eyes stop capturing daylight, the retina sends a nervous stimulus to the brain so that the pineal gland begins to synthesize and release melatonin. When adequate levels are reached, the different systems of our body understand that it is time to sleep
In addition to the brain, also other organs and tissues in our body also generate melatonin in order to protect themselves from possible damage.
As in the case of many other hormones, the production of melatonin in our body decreases with age.
According to the International Melatonin Institute of the University of Granada, “newborns do not have a melatonin rhythm, although their pineal gland can produce it tonically because the absence of light increases its production. The rhythmic production and secretion of melatonin is maintained until puberty, when it decreases markedly, to stabilize again until 35-40 years of age. From then on, melatonin production declines and by 55-65 years of age, the nocturnal peak of melatonin has been reduced by 40%, with the consequent consequences for the regulation of our circadian rhythms.”
Melatonin-based supplements are a very good solution when, for whatever reason, our biological clock is altered. In addition, since melatonin does not accumulate in the body and is generally well tolerated, it can be used at any age, even in children.
In fact, melatonin is increasingly used as a nutritional supplement for sleep problems in children, where its efficacy as a regulator of the circadian rhythm of sleep has been demonstrated. In this sense, it must be taken into account that approximately 30% of children experience a significant sleep disorder at some point, which can also lead to behavioral problems or mood changes.
