Melatonin is the well-known hormone, which is also available in the form of supplements, to improve sleep. However, it has now been found that it does more than just promote sleep.
From a recent study published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dieteticsresearchers analyzed the melatonin content in foods and its associations with various health effects, such as depression and obesity.
Melatonin, found in animal and plant foods, has been linked to benefits for sleep, mood and metabolic health in experimental, observational and supplementation studies.
Although melatonin concentrations in foods are lower than in supplements, melatonin-rich diets can increase circulating levels within physiological limits.
Increasing dietary melatonin intake can provide physiological doses that better match your body’s internal rhythms compared to pharmacological supplementation.
Given that problems such as depression, obesity and sleep disorders are becoming increasingly common, dietary melatonin has been investigated as a potential marker of dietary patterns associated with these conditions.
Previous observational and experimental studies suggest that melatonin is protective against inflammatory, metabolic, and neurobehavioral effects.
In the current study, researchers analyzed melatonin concentrations in foods and their relationship with multiple health outcomes.
Participants were from the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME+) study, an open, prospective cohort assessing the impact of dietary patterns and nutritional transition on non-communicable diseases.
The baseline questionnaire was administered in two parts, one assessing sociodemographics, clinical history, lifestyle, anthropometry, and morbidity.
In contrast, dietary melatonin intake was inversely associated with obesity and depression. Individuals with daily melatonin intakes of 14,900 to 34,400 ng and 14,900 to 25,000 ng were less likely to be obese and depressed, respectively.
Dietary melatonin intake was inversely associated with depression and obesity in this population, while no significant associations were observed for other chronic conditions or sleep duration.
