Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola
Source: https://media.mercola.com/ImageServer/Public/2021/November/PDF/cleveland-clinic-melatonin-pdf.pdf
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- Melatonin has been shown to play a role in viral infections and research suggests it may be an important adjunct to COVID-19 treatment
- Data analysis by Cleveland Clinic found patients who used supplemental melatonin had a 28% lower risk of testing positive for COVID-19. Black people who used melatonin were 52% less likely to test positive for the virus
- Melatonin attenuates several pathological features of COVID-19, including excessive inflammation and oxidation, exaggerated immune response resulting in a cytokine storm, acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome
- A case series reports patients given 36 mg to 72 mg of intravenous melatonin per day as an adjunct therapy to standard of care improved within four to five days; all survived
- Texas urgent care clinics using high-dose melatonin in combination with vitamin C and vitamin D say they’ve successfully treated hundreds of COVID-19 patients. Melatonin enhances vitamin D signaling and the two work synergistically to enhance your mitochondrial function
This article was previously published November 23, 2020, and has been updated with new information.
Melatonin is a hormone synthesized in your pineal gland and many other organs.1 While it is most well-known as a natural sleep regulator, it also has many other important functions.2 For example, melatonin:
| Is a potent antioxidant3 with the rare ability to enter your mitochondria,4 where it helps “prevent mitochondrial impairment, energy failure and apoptosis of mitochondria damaged by oxidation.”5 It also helps recharge glutathione,6 and glutathione deficiency has been linked to COVID-19 severity |
| Plays an important role in cancer prevention7 |
| Is important for brain, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health8 |
| Boosts immune function in a variety of ways |
| May improve the treatment of certain bacterial diseases, including tuberculosis9 |
| Helps quell inflammation |
| May prevent or improve autoimmune diseases, including Type 1 diabetes10 |
| Is an important energy hormone that can influence your energy level11 |
| Helps regulate gene expression via a series of enzymes12 |
| Has anticonvulsant and antiexcitotoxic properties13 |
Melatonin Also Has Important Role
Melatonin has also been shown to play a role in viral infections14 and according to a June 2020 research paper15,16,17 in Life Sciences journal, it may be an important adjunct to treatment. According to the authors, melatonin attenuates several pathological features including:18
- Excessive oxidative stress and inflammation
- Exaggerated immune response resulting in a cytokine storm
- Acute lung injury
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome
They point out that melatonin is also “effective in critical care patients by reducing vessel permeability, anxiety, sedation use, and improving sleeping quality, which might also be beneficial for better clinical outcomes.”19
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