This chemical compound plays an important role in the functions of the human body. It is produced in the brain, in an area called the pineal gland, and is released into the blood. It is a hormone that regulates the production of other hormones and coordinates the body's circadian (daily) rhythm, that is, the sleep-wake cycles. This rhythm is essentially our biological 24-hour clock, on which the normal functioning of the body depends. It is called the dark hormone because its synthesis and release are stimulated by darkness while it is limited by light. Therefore, exposure to bright light at night or to little light during the day deregulates the regulation of melatonin production, which results in fatigue and the body's dysfunction. The most typical example with which we clearly understand melatonin desynchronization is the inability to adapt to previous sleep-wake rhythms after a transatlantic trip: this is jet lag. It has been calculated that for every hour of time difference, it takes one day for the body to return to its normal state. That is, for a flight between two countries that have a 5-hour difference, it takes 5 days to restore the circadian rhythm! Melatonin also plays a role in the vividness and frequency of dreams. The highest levels of melatonin in the blood occur before the night sleep phase, which results in an increase in the production of the hormone during the night and a decrease in it during the day. NOW Melatonin 3 mg can help with insomnia and various sleep disorders, such as in transatlantic trips (jet lag phenomenon).14,81
