Melatonin and healthy aging.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate melatonin's role in maintaining healthy aging by examining its chronobiotic and cytoprotective effects, as well as its potential therapeutic applications in age-related and metabolic disorders.
Results Summary
Melatonin was found to synchronize circadian rhythms and exert cytoprotective effects by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. Clinical trials suggest efficacy at 2-10mg/day, but higher doses (100mg/day) may be needed for significant cytoprotective benefits, though more controlled studies are required.
Population
Aged animals and humans, particularly those with metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.
Effective Dosage
2-10mg/day in humans (clinical trials), 100mg/day suggested for cytoprotective effects (animal studies).
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin | increase | central circadian pacemaker located in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei as well as myriads of peripheral cellular circadian clocks | - | - | synchronizes | #1 |
melatonin | decrease | free radicals and inflammation | - | - | exerts a significant cytoprotective action | #2 |
melatonin | decrease | free radicals | - | - | buffering | #3 |
melatonin | decrease | proinflammatory cytokines | - | - | reversing inflammation via down regulation | #4 |
melatonin | decrease | low degree inflammation | - | - | suppression | #5 |
melatonin | decrease | insulin resistance | - | - | prevention | #6 |
melatonin administration | decrease | senescence-related changes | aged animals | a significant number | counteracts | #7 |
melatonin | increase | chronobiotic and cytoprotective agent to maintain a healthy aging | humans | - | is effective | #8 |
- | decrease | circulating melatonin levels | metabolic syndrome, ischemic and non-ischemic cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders like the Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases | consistently | reduced | #9 |
melatonin | increase | potential therapeutic value | clinical trials | a limited number | has been suggested | #10 |
melatonin | increase | cytoprotective effects | animal studies | in the 100mg/day range | need higher doses to become apparent | #11 |
Preservation of a robust circadian rhythmicity (particulsarly of the sleep/wake cycle), a proper nutrition and adequate physical exercise are key elements for healthy aging. Aging comes along with circadian alteration, e.g. a disrupted sleep and inflammation, that leads to metabolic disorders. In turn, sleep cycle disturbances cause numerous pathophysiological changes that accelerates the aging process. In the central nervous system, sleep disruption impairs several functions, among them, the clearance of waste molecules. The decrease of plasma melatonin, a molecule of unusual phylogenetic conservation present in all known aerobic organisms, plays a particular role as far as the endocrine sequels of aging. Every day, the late afternoon/nocturnal increase of melatonin synchronizes both the central circadian pacemaker located in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei as well as myriads of peripheral cellular circadian clocks. This is called the "chronobiotic effect" of melatonin, the methoxyindole being the prototype of the endogenous family of chronobiotic agents. In addition, melatonin exerts a significant cytoprotective action by buffering free radicals and reversing inflammation via down regulation of proinflammatory cytokines, suppression of low degree inflammation and prevention of insulin resistance. Because of these properties melatonin has been advocated to be a potential therapeutic tool in COVID 19 pandemic. Melatonin administration to aged animals counteracts a significant number of senescence-related changes. In humans, melatonin is effective both as a chronobiotic and a cytoprotective agent to maintain a healthy aging. Circulating melatonin levels are consistently reduced in the metabolic syndrome, ischemic and non-ischemic cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders like the Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The potential therapeutic value of melatonin has been suggested by a limited number of clinical trials generally employing melatonin in the 2-10mg/day range. However, from animal studies the cytoprotective effects of melatonin need higher doses to become apparent (i.e. in the 100mg/day range). Hence, controlled studies employing melatonin doses in this range are urgently needed.