MelatoninMelatonin

by Matthew Connellby Matthew Connell

Melatonin Melatonin

Regulates sleep and wake cycleRegulates sleep and wake cycle Produced in the Pineal Gland in the Produced in the Pineal Gland in the

brainbrain Affected by light (melatonin is used Affected by light (melatonin is used

by the body in preparation for sleep)by the body in preparation for sleep) Melatonin does not put you to sleep Melatonin does not put you to sleep

but simply promotes it by making but simply promotes it by making you feel more invited to fall asleepyou feel more invited to fall asleep

Uses Uses

Used to treat sleep disorders Used to treat sleep disorders involving jet lag, and sleep patterns involving jet lag, and sleep patterns for people with chaotic sleep cycles.for people with chaotic sleep cycles.

SupplementSupplement Used by some active people who Used by some active people who

deplete their natural hormones and may deplete their natural hormones and may need extra hormones to stay in balance need extra hormones to stay in balance with sleep cycles.with sleep cycles.

How Do I Get It?How Do I Get It?

Melatonin is readily Melatonin is readily

available for purchase inavailable for purchase in

tablet form in any place tablet form in any place

supplements are sold. supplements are sold.

Pineal gland Pineal gland

Light rays that are transmitted through the Light rays that are transmitted through the retina are sent as signals to the pineal retina are sent as signals to the pineal gland. Those signals help the pineal gland gland. Those signals help the pineal gland decide whether or not to begin releasing decide whether or not to begin releasing melatonin.melatonin.

The sleep cycle can be interrupted through The sleep cycle can be interrupted through staying up late, introducing the retinas to staying up late, introducing the retinas to light impulses, which makes the pineal light impulses, which makes the pineal gland shut down melatonin production gland shut down melatonin production because it receives messages from the body because it receives messages from the body to delay the release of the hormoneto delay the release of the hormone. .

Interrupted sleep Interrupted sleep

There can be a hangover of There can be a hangover of melatonin in the body when a person melatonin in the body when a person delays the release of melatonin by delays the release of melatonin by staying awake into the night. staying awake into the night.

The release of melatonin is delayed The release of melatonin is delayed and the full amount is released, and the full amount is released, causing a person to still have causing a person to still have melatonin in them when they wake melatonin in them when they wake upup

SpecificsSpecifics

The precursor to melatonin is The precursor to melatonin is serotoninserotonin, a neurotransmitter that , a neurotransmitter that comes from the amino acid comes from the amino acid tryptophan. Within the pineal gland, tryptophan. Within the pineal gland, serotonin is converted to make serotonin is converted to make melatonin. melatonin.

Tryptophan is the sleepy hormone Tryptophan is the sleepy hormone found in turkey…. Just a fun fact ;) found in turkey…. Just a fun fact ;)

Wake UP!!!!Wake UP!!!!

Melatonin doesn’t just make you Melatonin doesn’t just make you want to sleep, the cycle of melatonin want to sleep, the cycle of melatonin makes you feel like waking up when makes you feel like waking up when it wears off as well. it wears off as well.

This is how the sleep cycle is This is how the sleep cycle is regulated in a normal body. regulated in a normal body.

Disorders Disorders

Melatonin disorders are the cause of Melatonin disorders are the cause of several sleep disordersseveral sleep disorders

Low melatonin results in the Low melatonin results in the inability to regulate sleep-wake inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles, difficulty going to sleep, and cycles, difficulty going to sleep, and insomnia. insomnia.

High melatonin results in lethargy High melatonin results in lethargy and constant sleepiness and constant sleepiness

Conclusion Conclusion

1.1. Melatonin is a sleep hormone made Melatonin is a sleep hormone made in the pineal gland.in the pineal gland.

2.2. It regulates sleep cycles.It regulates sleep cycles.

3.3. Begins to release into the body Begins to release into the body around 9:00pm when the body is around 9:00pm when the body is preparing for sleep.preparing for sleep.

the end……..and the end……..and stuffstuff