Hypermelatoninemia Remedies Needed
Female, 55, chronic hypermelatoninemia. Takes NO melatonin supplements. Lives in Florida. Any input is appreciated.
Hi Alexa,
You can google "foods high in melatonin" and make sure you aren't eating any of these in quantity or if you have a relatively narrow range of foods that you eat, just google those specific foods to rule them out for higher melatonin content.
Midday sun exposure may also help lower your melatonin levels, but not earlier morning or later afternoon sun exposure. Lastly, if you are using any type of red light therapy or an infrared sauna, you might stop using them as they are known to increase melatonin levels.
I have never run into anyone with chronic hypermelatoninemia. So can you describe what symptoms it is causing you and how you were diagnosed for it?
Art
Chicago
06/27/2024
Naturally occurring hypermelatoninemia is rare. The medical conditions associated with it include:
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: Hypogonadism is a condition in which your testes or ovaries produce little or no sex hormones. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is a form of hypogonadism that's due to an issue with your pituitary gland or hypothalamus.
Anorexia nervosa: Anorexia is an eating disorder that involves limiting the number of calories and the types of food you eat due to an intense fear of gaining weight.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is a hormonal imbalance caused by your ovaries creating excess male hormones.
Spontaneous hypothermia hyperhidrosis: This is a rare condition in which a person suddenly — and for no known reason — develops a low body temperature (hypothermia) without being in a cold environment and sweats excessively (hyperhidrosis).
Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome: This is a rare genetic condition characterized by severe insulin resistance, which causes high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) that can lead to diabetes. Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome can cause pineal gland enlargement (hyperplasia).
Symptoms of hypermelatoninemia include:
Sleepiness during the day.
Low body temperature.
Dizziness.
Decreased muscle tone (hypotonia).
Chicago
06/27/2024
I follow a former neurosurgeon, who is brilliant yet unrecognized for not many know, let alone understand biophysics. He does.
Here is his article on melatonin. Hope it helps.
https://geelongosteopaths.com.au/a-neurosurgeons-take-on-melatonin/
Hi Natasha,
That was an interesting article on melatonin!
He mentions that eye exposure to UV light from the sun, ultimately increases melatonin production, but he did not mention that near infrared light (NIR) from the sun, of which the majority of sunlight reaching the earth is in the red range, also increases melatonin to the whole body and not only penetrates clothing, but is thought to penetrate deeply into the body and this can generate even more melatonin in the mitochondria. NIR is highest earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon compared to the UV light range. These two times are when sunlight is traveling through a greater distance of the earth's atmosphere.
The following research by Dr. Russel Reiter and associates covers some of this information :
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9855654/
Here is a relevant quote from the article :
' The low level of melatonin is associated with a spectrum of disorders since melatonin is a potent endogenous antioxidant; therefore, individuals should avoid visible light exposure at night. However, evidence also shows that near infrared radiation (NIR), which occupies a major portion of the wavelengths of sunlight, promotes melatonin production and the beneficial effects of sun baths or photobiomodulation therapy may be, at least, partially mediated by the increased local melatonin production induced by NIR. Unlike visible light, NIR can penetrate deep into the human body including the muscle, brain, and even the bones, and its effects on human biology remain to be clarified. Thus, the avoidance of light at night and exposure to sun during the day are equally important to improve melatonin production and human well-being.'
Another important consideration about melatonin is that its production level in humans peaks around age 8 to 10 years and declines from that point forward until middle age when it returns to a level seen in infants, which is very low and coincides with the onset of age related diseases. From middle age on the rate of melatonin decline moves into a less steep decline as illustrated in the attached graph :
![Age variations of melatonin levels. The hormone secretion increases in early childhood. In adolescent there is a decrease of the hormone concentration. The levels continued to decline gradually during middle age. In old population the levels of melatonin in serum are very low. (Modified from [88]).](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Theodoros-Grivas-2/publication/6414433/figure/fig5/AS:280125976399909@1443798645964/Age-variations-of-melatonin-levels-The-hormone-secretion-increases-in-early-childhood.png)
It would be very interesting to see how a human's health would evolve if that 8 to 10 year old age level of melatonin was manually maintained for the entire life span?
Art
Sarasota
06/27/2024
Blood work consistently showe hypermelatoninemia. Symptoms are non-specific - fatigue, small joints inflammation, a general feeling of illness, low energy.
