Anti-Aging Effect of Melatonin

The ability to tolerate inflammation, in whatever form, is a key to healthy aging.  A new study shows that melatonin¹ can restore the ability of important cell components to withstand the effects of inflammatory stress. This is a distinct anti-aging effect on cells. Since natural melatonin production declines with age, and is lower in many people in the winter, it is an important nutrient to keep in mind as part of your natural anti-aging team.

Endoplasmic reticulum is a functional sac-like network within your cells that is responsible for assembling proteins and fats into structures your cells can use as well as providing structural parts for receptors on the surface of your cells. It does all of this construction/ remodeling work in response to the demands placed on the cell. If it can’t keep up then your cells die. During aging, endoplasmic reticulum are not as efficient as when you were younger and are thus more sensitive to stress of any type, meaning that once they are overwhelmed and can’t make enough structural components for your cells to keep on going then the cells die. 

A new study shows that melatonin is able to correct many of the age-associated malfunctions that stress induces in immune cells from older people. In fact, whether cells are from a person who is young or old, melatonin is highly protective against stress inducing cell death due to overwhelm of the cellular repair and rejuvenation machinery known as the endoplasmic reticulum.

Many studies support melatonin’s role in fostering a more rhythmic and healthier immune response. Of course, melatonin is best known for its role in helping prevent winter mood issues, which are aggravated as the days become shorter and the temperature drops. The daily production of melatonin tends to decline after age 30 by about 0.5 mg every decade. Thus, a dose of 0.5 – 2.0 mg may be relevant for many as an anti-stress and anti-aging approach. Others may wish to use higher doses of melatonin, especially if it helps them sleep better.