Melatonin for High Blood Pressure

Harry Hirsute · � #1 � 05-10-2008, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Melatonin is fascinating stuff.

In addition to its use as a sleep aid, melatonin exerts possible effects on cardiovascular parameters, including anti-oxidative action on LDL, reduction in sympathetic (adrenaline-driven) tone, and reduction in blood pressure.

Several studies document the blood pressure-reducing effect of melatonin:

Daily nighttime melatonin reduces blood pressure in male patients with essential hypertension.

Melatonin reduces night blood pressure in patients with nocturnal hypertension.

Prolonged melatonin administration decreases nocturnal blood pressure in women.

Blood pressure-lowering effect of melatonin in type 1 diabetes.

But blood pressure may be increased when melatonin is added to nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker:

Cardiovascular effects of melatonin in hypertensive patients well controlled by nifedipine: a 24-hour study.

Effects on BP tend to be modest, on the order of 5-8 mmHg reduction in systolic, half that in diastolic.

But don't pooh-pooh such small reductions, however, as small reductions exert mani-fold larger reductions in cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke. NIH-sponsored NHANES data (see JNC VII), for example, document a doubling of risk for each increment of BP of 20/10. The Camelot Study demonstrated a reduction in cardiovascular events from 23% in placebo subjects to 16.7% in subjects taking amlodipine (Norvasc) with a 5 mm reduction in systolic pressure, 2 mmHg drop in diastolic pressure. Small changes, big benefits.

Many people take melatonin at bedtime and are disappointed with the effects. However, a much better way is to take melatonin several hours before bedtime, e.g., take at 7 pm to fall asleep at 10 pm. Don't think of melatonin as a sleeping pill; think of it as a sleep hormone, something that simply prepares your body for sleep by slowing heart rate, reducing body temperature, and reducing blood pressure. (You may need to modify the interval between taking melatonin and sleep, since individual responsiveness varies quite a bit.)

I also favor the sustained-release preparations, e.g., 5 mg sustained-release. Immediate-release, while it exerts a more rapid onset of sleep, allows you to wake up prematurely, The sustained-release preparations last longer and allow longer sleep.

The dose varies with age, with 1 mg effective in people younger than 40 years, higher doses of 3, 5, even 10 or 12 mg in older people. Sustained-release preparations also should be taken in slightly higher doses.

The only side-effect I've seen with melatonin is vivid, colorful dreams. Perhaps that's a plus!

https://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/20...-pressure.html

nightowl · � #2 � 05-13-2008, 01:24 AM

I've read that people with autoimmune diseases shouldn't take melitonin. Does anyone know why?

nightowl

Harry Hirsute · � #3 � 05-13-2008, 11:23 AM

I think this may answer your question, Nightowl:

Quote:

Controversy over the Safety of Melatonin in Autoimmune Diseases

In general, although melatonin is one of the least toxic substances known, it is not recommended for people with autoimmune diseases or immune system cancers because of its ability to stimulate immune function. However, in numerous studies of people with specific autoimmune disorders, melatonin can modulate the immune system in a beneficial way.

Studies show that melatonin can inhibit cytokine production and reduce inflammation. [JM Guerrero and RJ Reiter, Melatonin-immune system relationships, Current Topics in Medical Chemistry, Feb 2002; 2(2): 167-179].

Current research suggests that melatonin should not be used in autoimmune diseases unless it is used as a therapy in a closely supervised clinical trial or under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. This recommendation may change as further studies of melatonin’s effects on the immune system are complete.

https://autoimmunedisease.suite101.co...immune_disease

nightowl · � #4 � 05-13-2008, 12:00 PM

Thanks Harry. There are so many positive benefits from using melatonin...seems like every time I look up a natural remedy for a condition I have, melatonin is recommended. Life Extension said pretty much the same thing as this article...darned if you do, and darned if you don't! They probably had one bad apple out of a bunch of research so now doctors are afraid to recommend it. I think I'll try 1 mg and work my way up to 5 mg to try it. I used the name "nightowl" on here for a reason. I have always stayed up till 3 or 4 AM and slept all day, but recently I sometimes stay up 20 to 30 hours at a time, without really feeling overly tired. I also have sleep apnea so probably don't sleep that sound when I am asleep. I use a BIPAP machine and oxygen when I sleep. It was mentioned that melatonin caused vivid dreams...I almost never dream, and if I do I don't remember it.

thanks for the come-back!
nightowl

Ted_Hutchinson · � #5 � 02-21-2011, 03:23 AM

Pubmed search Melatonin Blood Pressure shows that since Harry's earlier post much more evidence has been reported.

Do be aware that one of the reasons Why Cherries are good for insomnia is that they contain Melatonin

Don't forget you can improve your NATURAL melatonin secretion by using subdued lighting from an hour after sunset and reduce the brightness of your PC monitor with this free downloadable automatic monitor adjustment programme.
F.lux: software to make your life better Wearing an eye mask in bed or keeping the curtains closed and digital displays turned off will also help.

Getting OUTSIDE into bright light for at least 30minutes will help reset circadian rhythm but ideally 90 minutes is better. The earlier in the day the better to switch off the previous nights melatonin secretion. Too much melatonin during the day affects glucose metabolism (the first meal of the day always produces the highest BG spike) so bright light therapy, (or getting outside early) will reduce that effect.

Melatonin secretion is also influenced by magnesium status so ensuring you are consuming sufficient magnesium 400mg/d daily of an easily absorbed form or a total (from food/water/supplements ) of 500~700mg/d magnesium is ideal.

This Source Naturals, Melatonin, Timed Release, 3 mg, is my choice of Timed release melatonin. I take one about 8pm and a second as I get into bed.
Source Naturals also do a range of SUBLINGUAL melatonin that would be idea for those with gut problems and poor absorption from the digestive tract. These are not time release so would help particularly those people who have trouble falling asleep. They may find a TR version in addition would be helpful if they wake up too early and can't get back to sleep.

Those with bladder problems who currently need to pee in the night may find the way melatonin relaxes the bladder walls so it gradually increases capacity as the night goes on particularly useful. It is also helpful for people who have an overexcitable bladder.

UK buyers will find Iherb cheapest for melatonin as you can't buy it OTC in the UK. If you go for the post option you need to keep order value below �18 to avoid VAT and the Post Office �8 handling fee. If you are spending more than �18 then DHL charge only �1.25 for collecting the Tax so apart from being quicker and trackable it can work out almost as cheap if you get multibuy discounts as well. Prices for USA/CANADIAN users may well be cheaper elsewhere depending on shipping.

Solstice Goat · � #6 � 09-21-2012, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ted_Hutchinson

Source Naturals also do a range of SUBLINGUAL melatonin that would be idea for those with gut problems and poor absorption from the digestive tract. These are not time release so would help particularly those people who have trouble falling asleep. They may find a TR version in addition would be helpful if they wake up too early and can't get back to sleep.

Hey Ted, I most recently ordered a bottle of Source Naturals subligual melatonin and it claims to be timed release. Perhaps this is a new addition to their line of products. I ordered it through Vitacost.

Ted_Hutchinson · � #7 � 09-21-2012, 05:52 AM

I'm not sure how a sub-lingual melatonin could be time release?
Surely by the time it's absorbed it will all happen in the oral cavity within a relatively short time and not sufficient to counteract the 40 minute half-life of melatonin once absorbed.

Solstice Goat · � #8 � 10-09-2012, 12:01 PM

Me either, but that's what they claim.

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