Melatonin Helps Delay Aging

A team of Spanish researchers have discovered that melatonin neutralizes oxidative damage and delays the neurodegenerative process of aging. Melatonin is a natural substance produced by the body and is also available in small amounts in foods such as onions, cherries and bananas, and in cereals like corn, oats and rice, as well as in some aromatic plants, such as mint, lemon verbena, sage or thyme, and in red wine. It is also available as a dietary supplement to help promote sleep.

The authors administered small amounts of melatonin to mice and observed that not only did this substance neutralize the oxidative stress and the inflammatory process caused by aging, but it also delayed its effects, thus increasing longevity. In particular, the University of Granada’s goal was to analyse the mitochondrial function in mice and check their mitochondrial capacity to produce ATP – adenosine triphosphate – a molecule whose mission is to store the energy every cell needs to carry out its functions.

In mice, melatonin is no longer produced at the age of five months and the administration of melatonin at this age helped counteract all age-related processes. The researchers therefore extrapolates this to humans, suggesting that a daily melatonin intake in humans from the age of 30 or 40 could prevent – or, at least, delay – illnesses related to aging, free radicals and inflammatory processes, such as many neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s disease) and complications linked to other illnesses, like diabetes.