I hear melatonin levels decline with age, and that the ideal amount to supplement is between 300-700mcg because it emulates natural levels. But what is the best age to start using melatonin? When do melatonin levels begin declining? And what is the best form of administration (e.g., liquid, tablet)?
#1
Posted 14 June 2014 - 11:26 PM
#2
Posted 15 June 2014 - 12:24 AM
I wouldn't use it unless you have to. Melatonin levels decline with age because the older you get, the less sleep you need. Why this is, I can't say.
I wouldn't take melatonin unless you need it, like if you are jet lagged, or have an early day and really can't get to sleep. It's a hormone, and I would definitely not suggest taking it everyday either. Many users that take it every day often report bad side effects, interference with sleep, bad dreams, depression, etc.
I use sublingual tablets when I really need to get to sleep. Other times when I woke up late during the day and need to go to sleep early to wake up early, I will take a time released one an hour or so before bed.
#3
Posted 15 June 2014 - 12:36 AM
I've used it for 20 years straight. Every nite. Starting at age 27. Around 3 mgs. No 3rd arm growing yet.
#4
Posted 15 June 2014 - 01:44 AM
I've used it for 20 years straight. Every nite. Starting at age 27. Around 3 mgs. No 3rd arm growing yet.
Have you tried going a month without it?
#5
Posted 15 June 2014 - 01:48 AM
I've used it for 20 years straight. Every nite. Starting at age 27. Around 3 mgs. No 3rd arm growing yet.
Have you tried going a month without it?
Nope, never felt any reason to. I can honestly say I've never noticed a single effect of using melatonin. I just trust the anti-aging science behind it.
#6
Posted 15 June 2014 - 05:00 AM
I'm not interested in using melatonin to sleep better; I'm interested in its life extension benefits. There was a study that found feeding liquid melatonin to middle-aged mice increased their lifespan by 20%. I'm 19. Is there any point in taking it for increased lifespan at such a young age?
Edited by Guinevere, 15 June 2014 - 05:01 AM.
#7
Posted 15 June 2014 - 07:23 AM
I'm 19. Is there any point in taking it for increased lifespan at such a young age?
Not sure about lifespan, but you can make an argument there might be healthspan benefits from melatonin supplements even for teens & children. We're all exposed to night-time light pollution, which reduces melatonin release in humans. (Smartphones, tablets, the electrical lighting people have on in their homes - all these things all impair melatonin release in the evening). This is something that would effect people of all ages (not just old people). Lowered levels of melatonin over a long time *could* be bad for your health given that higher levels of melatonin have been linked to a reduced risk for various cancers (prostate, skin) in observational studies. Does reduced melatonin levels from light pollution put us at higher risk of cancer? Also, does melatonin supplementation over the long term give us some degree of protection from certain cancers? These questions haven't been answered. Given that melatonin supplementation is cheap and harmless (not associated with any serious negative side effects, *NOT* associated with suppression of endogenous melatonin production, and not associated with any rebound sleeplessness on cessation) many folks would choose to supplement.
Edited by blood, 15 June 2014 - 07:49 AM.
#8
Posted 15 June 2014 - 01:33 PM
I wouldn't use it unless you have to. Melatonin levels decline with age because the older you get, the less sleep you need. Why this is, I can't say.
Source? I doubt you just need 4 hours of sleep when you're 80. I guess it's more that melatonin levels drop so they cant sleep well (and a lot of other factors).
I wouldn't take melatonin unless you need it, like if you are jet lagged, or have an early day and really can't get to sleep. It's a hormone, and I would definitely not suggest taking it everyday either. Many users that take it every day often report bad side effects, interference with sleep, bad dreams, depression, etc.
http://examine.com/s...onin/#summary15 - No real evidence for addiction, withdrawl, doesn't drop the levels you produce yourself or much negative.
@OP: I've been taking melatonin for a bit more than year on and off, recently started daily again, will probably do it forever.
#9
Posted 16 June 2014 - 12:57 AM
effect
affect
#10
Posted 16 June 2014 - 02:48 PM
I'm not interested in using melatonin to sleep better; I'm interested in its life extension benefits. There was a study that found feeding liquid melatonin to middle-aged mice increased their lifespan by 20%. I'm 19. Is there any point in taking it for increased lifespan at such a young age?
My opinion is different from some people here, but I do not see life extension as possible. I believe we each have a potential lifespan that we should try to reach by living healthily. As a young person, you are in a very strong position. If you look after yourself from here on, you stand a reasonable chance of reaching your full span. As we go through life, I think we may compromise our life expectancy--for example, if we smoke, if we eat crap, if we do not keep fit ...etc. But I am not sure someone of your age will make much difference to their potential lifespan by taking something such as melatonin. In my opinion, the healthier we are, the fewer supplements we need to take.
Edited by Gerrans, 16 June 2014 - 02:51 PM.
#11
Posted 21 June 2014 - 03:36 PM
#12
Posted 21 June 2014 - 06:14 PM
#13
Posted 27 June 2014 - 05:05 PM
#14
Posted 27 June 2014 - 09:49 PM
Once you are old or broken have fun tinkering, but now are the golden years where all you need is a healthy lifestyle.
#15
Posted 27 June 2014 - 10:02 PM
The fact that I took over an hour to fall asleep each night before I started taking melatonin indicates that something was wrong, and likely had a negative effect on my health because of all that lost sleep.
#16
Posted 28 June 2014 - 07:30 PM
#17
Posted 29 June 2014 - 12:05 AM
You answered your own question Maximum. If the problem is caused by "perturbing our body's natural circadian rhythm" why not stop doing that instead of taking a chemically synthesized peptide hormone? I am timid in my exploitation of hormone therapy even though a large amount of mine now only come out of bottles and vials. It's neuroprotective properties look very promising though. But HRT is not for the young and healthy IMO.
#18
Posted 29 June 2014 - 10:14 PM
"Perturbing our body's natural circadian rhythm" = turning on lights when it's dark outside. I think this would be a good issue for the Paleo Diet people to take up, but in the meantime if you spend less than 12 hours in darkness then melatonin seems possibly beneficial and certainly not harmful.
#19
Posted 21 April 2018 - 10:39 AM
Proper sleep can't be replaced by a pill. Maybe if you worked shift work you could use it occasionally. I wouldn't take it regularly till you were over 40.
Shut up troll
#20
Posted 22 April 2018 - 11:24 PM
The older one gets, the more vitamin D is required to maintain similar effectiveness.
Vitamin D increases tyrosine hydroxylase (dopamine, essentially) in the hypothalamus. Selegiline increases dopamine in the hypothalamus (its life extension effect) by inhibiting MAO-B.
Progesterone, which declines with age in both males and females, is an MAO-B inhibitor, and estrogen, which increases with age, increases MAO-B. A more efficient metabolism and hormone synthesis due to increased hypothalamus (and therefore, pituitary and thyroid) activity results in more progesterone, which then maintains normal MAO-B levels and collagen turnover/synthesis. Normal MAO-B equals normal hypothalamus function, and therefore, less impaired metabolism and hormone synthesis, and therefore, less decline in progesterone, and therefore, less increase in estrogen and less decline in hypothalamus activity, and therefore, less impaired metabolism and hormone synthesis, and round and round.
Edited by baccheion, 22 April 2018 - 11:26 PM.
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