Dr. Russell Reiter on Melatonin

  

Thanks to Chris @ Chris Beat Cancer.  

Show Notes
*  How Dr. Reiter got into melatonin research [1:23]
*  What melatonin does in the body [3:28]
*  How blue light inhibits melatonin production [7:05]
*  How melatonin is passed to the fetus and newborn [12:00]
*  The anticancer benefits of melatonin [15:25]
*  How pharmaceutical drugs suppress melatonin production [18:40]
*  When should melatonin be taken during the day? [22:47]
*  Does taking melatonin affect natural production? [24:36]

Blind people have lower rates of cancer due to the higher circulating melatonin in their blood.  [27:22]
*  Older people need more melatonin [29:20]
*  How melatonin can reduce the impact of Covid-19 [31:15]
*  The impact of alcohol and caffeine on melatonin production [34:45]
*  Melatonin acts as an antiviral [37:24]
*  How sunlight helps with the production of melatonin [44:35]
*  Melatonin can reduce the likelihood of metastasis [50:45]

MELATONIN'S UNEXPECTED BENEFITS: slows aging, Prevents . . . Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, protects against ionizing radiation, macular degeneration, treats cancer . . .

This was interesting.  

It's a review by Dr. Gary Gonzalez of Dr. Russel [one L] Breiter's book on melatonin.  Most of us, including myself, think of melatonin as a sleep aid or more recently as a valuable antioxidant.  Reiter explains just how valuable it is for longevity and radical health.  

The first longevity product that I'd ever heard or read about was Resveratrol and IP6.  IP6 was a longevity compound because it managed the EXCESS iron floating around in our blood, out of the tissue, as what is called "Unbound iron."  The excess iron produces an inflammatory protein that, if left untreated, leads to chronic diseases like arthritis, 

FEMALE LONGEVITY

The end result is even more compelling. For example, Reiter explains that five separate studies have shown that older women produce more melatonin than older men-suggesting a possible explanation for the long-observed female longevity factor." He details findings showing a marked correlation between brain functioning in older age and melatonin levels.

Shielding DNA From Free Radicals

Reiter explains melatonin's effects on the immune system of aging animals and determines whether or not these actions also apply to humans. Most importantly, he shows how melatonin fits in with the free radical theory of aging.

He explains that melatonin is found in the greatest abundance in the nucleus of the cell, where it shields the DNA molecule itself from free radical damage better than any other known substance. Reiter describes his own studies in which melatonin has protected DNA from free radicals generated by radiation, carcinogens, bacterial toxins, and most important the process of using oxygen for fuel.

UNEXPECTED BENEFITS

Even if you have no sleeping issues, anyone over 40 should be taking melatonin.  19 Research papers reveal that melatonin promotes all of these unexpected effects [in no particular order, though numbered:

1.  Protects against viral and bacterial infections.

2.  Prevents cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. 

3.  Reduces oxidant stress and inflammation and slows aging. 

4.  Prevents neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. 

5.  Improves menopause therapy. 

6.  Protects against ionizing radiation. 

7.  Prevents macular degeneration. 

8.  Prevents and treats cancer.

Okay, so with all of these benefits, the only thing to consider is how much does, or should, one take?  First, I would say do a trial run.  By that I mean start with smaller amounts, say, 3mgs, and see how you feel upon waking, whether or not you can tolerate melatonin to begin with, or tolerate that amount.  When I first tried melatonin, I woke up and could barely raise my arms, and my legs felt like bricks.  But when I was working a physically demanding job for a few years, I noticed that the only way to turn the pain off was excess melatonin, and excess was 5 to 10mgs back in 2018.  Since then, I've been taking upwards of 12 to 20mgs, but not every night.  For, at least in my case, melatonin doesn't deliver a deep sleep for me.  But I still take it for the other unexpected benefits listed above.  

So how much should you take?  The answer is contingent on several factors.  One, if you've got a serious disease, like cancer, then you want to take more.  Bill Sardi recommends 15-30mgs nightly for cancer treatment in conjunction with several other compounds.  

MELATONIN: NOT JUST A SLEEP AID BUT ". . . THE MOST POWERFUL ANTIOXIDANT TOOL IN THE WORLD"?

I love her claim that melatonin is a more powerful antioxidant than glutathione, which is considered the master antioxidant.  Imagine the healing that could take place if you took both glutathione AND melatonin.  Be sure to open up that thread by clicking on Natural Immunity's Twitter link.  Melatonin benefits go beyond anticancer.  It keeps our skin healthy and youthful [through] two major mechanisms. It has antioxidant effects that neutralize oxidative damage from the sun, and by stimulating growth receptors in the skin.  NaturalImmunity goes on to say that 

Melatonin may have a profound effect on stroke & heart attack! Take w/in 1st 2 hrs. Based on studies, if were me, I'd take ~2000mg, since oral bioavail is low (& that amt has been shown 2b safe). Then 100mg+ every hour or so for 24/48 hrs. (Not medical advice)!

MELATONIN - more potent than glutathione #NotForSleep pic.twitter.com/cKLiNhzUdr

— Natural Immunity FTW (@NaturallyFTW) May 21, 2022

Christopher Wark of Chris Beat Cancer interviews Dr. Russell J. Reiter.  A powerful interview here on how necessary darkness is for our circadian rhythms and our health.  Modern life with night lighting is fairly new in our evolution, disruptive of natural processes, and disease generating.  So embrace the darkness.  Be sure to check out the show notes in the link, "Chris Beats Cancer" above.  Here is a sampling from those notes:

Melatonin acts as an antiviral [37:24]
-How sunlight helps with the production of melatonin [44:35]
-Melatonin can reduce the likelihood of metastasis [50:45]

Clearly, the antioxidant action of melatonin is quite powerful as an anti-cancer compound. Bill Sardi included it in his nutritional compound regimen for cancer, in fact, 15-30mg of melatonin per night.  So there is credible consensus on the anti-cancer benefits of melatonin.

I have to say that any time I hear or read about the anti-aging benefits of melatonin, or any product, my ears perk up.  Antiaging means that you only slow down the aging process.  In some cases, it may be possible to reverse aging processes, like alopecia, or hair loss, this can be reversed with Rutin, Pumpkin Seed Oils, and B5.  This video, which I didn't have the time to watch all the way through, highlights that 1) Melatonin is an ancient molecule.  That's interesting, but what is the relevance of that?  What benefits are derived from its ancient characteristics?  2) It's found in bacteria and every organism between bacteria and mammalians.  Its structure has never changed throughout its evolution, what that means is that the structure of melatonin in bacteria is identical to the structure of melatonin in humans.  Whoa.  Now that is something, but what does that tell us?  That melatonin means life itself?  3) it is not toxic at any dose. 4) it exists in every species that is currently living or that has ever existed.  I mean what is not to like?  For optimal cellular physiology.  Melatonin exhibits in the blood circadian rhythm.  [7:38] "Melatonin is a very strong anti-cancer agent."  It influences the immune system, metabolism, gastro-intestinal function.   

Check out Melatonin by Russell J. Reiter; Jo Robinson https://t.co/dJ1CO1lM No #eBay via @eBay

— Mike Walgenbach (@mwalgen44) May 21, 2022

Show Notes from Chris Beat Cancer

-How Dr. Reiter got into melatonin research [1:23]
-What melatonin does in the body [3:28]
-How blue light inhibits melatonin production [7:05]
-How melatonin is passed to the fetus and newborn [12:00]
-The anticancer benefits of melatonin [15:25]
-How pharmaceutical drugs suppress melatonin production [18:40]
-When should melatonin be taken during the day? [22:47]
-Does taking melatonin affect natural production? [24:36]
-Older people need more melatonin [29:20]
-How melatonin can reduce the impact of Covid-19 [31:15]
-The impact of alcohol and caffeine on melatonin production [34:45]
-Melatonin acts as an antiviral [37:24]
-How sunlight helps with the production of melatonin [44:35]
-Melatonin can reduce the likelihood of metastasis [50:45]