Melatonin, in its natural form is a hormone our pineal gland releases to regulate our sleep-wake cycle. It may also be taken by mouth, to treat insomnia from jet lag or shift work according to Wikipedia. Teens sleep later in the morning as puberty slows their response to daylight. While elderly people have less melatonin on average. Recent research suggests melatonin sleep aid could slow COVID down.
Tell Me More About Melatonin and Sleep
At dawn when the sun rises, the light triggers our eyes. These send a signal to our pineal gland which produces melatonin. The gland ceases making the protein and we become fully awake.
We remain alert until the darkness returns, and our melatonin production resumes again. That’s how a melatonin supplement could help us sleep better. We call this natural process the Circadian Rhythm.
Scientists Discover Melatonin Sleep Aid Could Slow COVID Down
Scientists at Cleveland Clinic under leadership of Dr. Feixiong Cheng combed through their registry of 27,000 patients. Artificial intelligence enabled them to identify people taking melatonin were 28% less likely to test positive for COVID.
The effect was even more significant with African Americans, who were 52% less likely to contract the disease. This was after adjusting for age, sex, race, smoking tobacco, and various disease comorbidities. That’s according to their report published November 6, 2020.
Could Melatonin Also Regulate the Immune System?
KIRO7 News put this question to Dr. Feixiong Cheng. He replied the mechanism was still an enigma. Although other studies have shown the protein ‘reduces chronic and acute inflammation’.
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center found intubated COVID patients administered melatonin ‘had better outcomes.’ Dr. Feixiong Cheng is currently investigating the cause-effect link. Then we will have more certainty if melatonin sleep aid could indeed slow COVID down.
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Preview Image: Melatonin in Circadian Rhythm
