Melatonin and Sleep

Modern science recognises more than 100 diseases related to sleep, because sleep disorders that are left undiagnosed or untreated can result in drastic consequences for health. Experts estimate that roughly one in ten suffers from some kind of sleep disorder. This proportion is even higher among older people, with around 60 to 70 per cent of people over the age of 65 suffering from sleep disorders to differing extents. A sleep disorder is defined as such if a person sleeps for less than six hours a night in three out of seven nights over a period of six months.

Sleep deprivation and its health consequences

Studies have been finding for years that people who sleep too little or have to sleep at the wrong times, for example, suffer from flu-like infections four times as often, as their immune system is weakened as a result of the sleep deprivation. People who have been working shifts for more than 10 years are at particular risk; the WHO (World Health Organisation) has classified night shift work as carcinogenic. The risk of breast cancer can increase by up to 65 per cent, while the risk of intestinal and prostate cancer also rises drastically.

Other effects

The likelihood of digestive system disorders, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, vascular diseases, and also cancer, dementia and obesity is also increased many times over. A lack of sleep can also result in impaired memory, lack of drive and mood swings. In the worst cases, this may result in hallucinations or depression.

Melatonin as a key hormone

The benefits of melatonin in regulating and optimising the sleep/wake cycle have long been proven. Especially as a chronotherapeutic drug, its value has been very successfully proven, providing support in mitigating the risk of one of the aforementioned diseases. And it has also been demonstrated that melatonin is highly tolerable over a longer period time, even at higher dosages. There is also no risk of addiction and/or dependency.

https://melatoninfacts.org/sleep/

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Melatonin and Fertility

Fertility requires a healthy circadian rhythm, which is shaped by physiological melatonin levels. Any problem with the 24-hour cycle can have a negative impact on both female and male fertility.

Factors that prevent fertilisation

Factors include circadian rhythm disorders caused by jet lag and shift work, which adversely affects nocturnal melatonin production and ultimately prevents other hormones from being adequately produced. An impaired circadian rhythm also has a negative impact on the female menstruation cycle and can cause periods to become irregular or skipped, which can also have a negative impact on the reproductive system.

Melatonin and female fertility

Poor egg quality, often caused by oxidative stress, is considered to be one of the main causes of female infertility. With its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, melatonin can prevent cells from being damaged by free radicals, which is especially important for ovulation. Especially in artificial fertilisation, eggs are exposed to even greater stresses. Researchers recommend that melatonin be administered before IVF in this case to improve egg quality.

Melatonin and male fertility

To improve male fertility, melatonin not only serves to increase the energy of the spermatozoa but also makes them faster and more agile. Melatonin also protects sperm from oxidative stress and improves its quality, which is essential to achieve successful fertilisation.

https://melatoninfacts.org/fertility/

Every cell contains a miracle hormone - melatonin

The benefits of melatonin in regulating and optimising the sleep/wake cycle have long been proven. Especially as a chronotherapeutic drug, its value has been very successfully proven, providing support in mitigating the risk of one of the aforementioned diseases. And it has also been demonstrated that melatonin is highly tolerable over a longer period time, even at higher dosages. There is also no risk of addiction and/or dependency.

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is mainly produced in the pineal gland, located in the brain – especially during the night in complete darkness. This is when the melatonin level rises to eight times of the level during the day. This signals to the organism that it is time for the organs and bodily functions to rest, but also to initiate vital repair mechanisms. This makes melatonin the most important internal timer.

Each flash of light passes through the retina to reach the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is connected to the pineal gland and serves as a control centre and “master clock” for the brain. Melatonin provides the timing for this internal clock, not only letting the brain know that it should switch to “night mode”, but also passing this information on to every other organ and cell in the body. If this natural mechanism is disrupted by light during the night, this has serious consequences not only for the day/night cycle, but also for the function of the organs and the development and course of many diseases.

Only recently did it become known that the “powerhouses” of each cell, the mitochondria, are also capable of producing melatonin. This melatonin is not passed into the blood, but rather is used to regulate certain functions in each of the cells. This production is also partly controlled by the melatonin in the pineal gland, meaning that disorders of the pineal gland can also result in changes in how these cells function, which may result in organ damage.

 

https://melatoninfacts.org/basic-facts/

Novel Approaches for Assessing Circadian Rhythmicity in Humans

Wearables and -omics data combined with machine learning and mathematical modeling hold great promise for the development of novel methods to quantify circadian processes in humans. 

Until now, much emphasis has been on the development of sophisticated algorithms without clearly stating the purpose of the biomarker. Little effort has been devoted to comparison of these biomarkers to gold standards, validating them in realistic protocols, or defining the required accuracy across use cases. 

A variety of performance measures have been used in different studies, and reaching a consensus on the performance metrics of biomarkers will facilitate comparison across methods. It will be useful to evaluate these new methods within a framework that is based on concepts developed in circadian rhythm research together with concepts from the field of biomarker development. 

https://doi.org/10.1177/0748730420940483

Aligning mealtimes to live longer

Calorie restriction, fasting, and circadian rhythms sync together for a long, healthy life in mice

Calorie restriction (CR) involves chronic reduction of energy intake by 20 to 40% without inducing malnutrition. CR extends life span in multiple animal models and reduces the risk of age-associated disorders, most of which arise from metabolic dysfunction and inflammation.

However, extended daily fasting or aligning daily meal timing to the active period, even without reducing energy intake, can also improve health and increase life span in model organisms.

Acosta-Rodríguez et al. reveal the specific contribution of fasting and timing of calorie-reduced meals to the efficacy of CR, as estimated by life-span extension in male mice.

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adc8824

Chronoprakriti activities

We are evolving with each passing day and feedback from the participants. As on today following options are made available for all age groups/professions. We may modify it as and when required.

How healthy is my body clock – Introductory seminar (1 hr)

It’s time to tune your Chronoprakriti – Customized Workshop (4 hrs)

Disconnect Yourself – ChronoPrakriti Wellness Program (20 hrs)

How much sleep do I need – Introductory seminar  (1 hr)

Chronobiology of Sleep – Customized Workshop  (4 hrs)

Rejuvenate Yourself – Sleep Debt Repayment Program (20 hrs)

Please visit www.chrnoprakriti.com for more details

 

It's time to tune your ChronoPrakriti seminars

We have restarted the seminar again. It will be conducted alternatively online as well as in offline mode. The first offline seminar was conducted on last Saturday 25th Feb 2023 at Bhide Foundation, SP college campus attended by 16 participants.