There is a ton of information floating out there about COVID-19 and successful treatments and preventatives (prophylactics). Scientists are working hard to understand how this virus works and to find effective ways to treat the virus. At this time COVID-19 research is dominating nearly all of the scientific research being done at this time worldwide.
One of the treatments being looked at is supplementation with Melatonin. At this time there is no definitive science showing Melatonin can prevent the most serious effects of COVID-19 however there are some indications that the severity of this virus, the overreaction of the immune response and the severe lung damage often seen with the sickest COVID-19 patients may be reduced with Melatonin.
Melatonin is known mostly for its ability to facilitate sleep by regulating sleep by influencing the body’s biological clock and strengthening and improving the sleep-wake cycles. Melatonin is a hormone the body produces naturally in the Pineal Gland located in the brain. The retina of the eye receives light and dark cues and communicates these signals along the optic nerve right to the brain’s master biological clock the (SCN)-Superchasmatic nucleus, which then signals the Pineal Gland to increase Melatonin production.
Melatonin production rises when it is dark and is reduced when exposed to light (circadian rhythm). Melatonin levels begin to rise around 9 PM and peaks during the night and falls to its lowest levels in the morning. Of course melatonin cycles vary from individual to individual. Over the last few years Melatonin has been shown to play an important role in the body with many therapeutic uses being discovered. Among some of Melatonin’s most important functions are its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and its ability to modulate immune activity. This ability to restrain the body’s immune response and hold inflammation in check has caused Melatonin to be studied as a treatment for COVID-19.
One of the ways Melatonin supports the immune system is by influencing the production of cytokines, small proteins which support the immune system’s ability to signal the cells around the body. Cytokines can cause inflammation (pro-inflammatory cytokines) or restrict inflammation (anti-inflammatory cytokines). Studies show Melatonin can reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Melatonin also is a well known free radical neutralizing antioxidant and limits oxidative stress and damage which both add to inflammation in the body.
COVID-19 is an acute respiratory virus that may launch a very aggressive attack on the lungs. Most cases of COVID-19 exhibit mild symptoms which could be similar to a cold or the flu. However in some cases symptoms include pneumonia and in the most serious cases the lungs and respiratory system cannot take in enough oxygen. It is these patients that require a ventilator. The pneumonia and lung issues associated with COVID-19 also can cause an excessive inflammatory response by the body’s immune system. The most critical COVID-19 cases exhibit this dangerous immune system overreaction. This Coronavirus activates and immune system agent called an inflammasome. Inflammasomes are sensors of the immune system that look for threats to the body and respond to these threats by triggering the production of inflammation to stop the perceived threat. NLRP3 is the inflammasome caused by this Coronavirus. NLRP3 has been seen in research to by closely connected to acute respiratory distress syndrome and to acute lung injury. NLRP3 is a key trigger to the over-response of the immune system that lead to the life threatening lung issues caused by COVID-19.
Melatonin has been shown in research to suppress the NLRP3 inflammasome. Melatonin’s ability to suppress NLRP3 activation has been shown to reduce lung tissue injury, lower infiltration of the immune cells into the lungs, lower the production of proinflammatory cytokines and to counteract severe inflammatory responses.
Of course more research is needed and is continuing as we speak.
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