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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Melatonin ( side effect)
        
(Message started by: MJ on Feb 9^th, 2007, 3:03am)

Title: Melatonin ( side effect)
Post by MJ on Feb 9^th, 2007, 3:03am

The gonad report and other melatonin articles

Popular Supplement Melatonin Found To Have Broader Effects In Brain Than Once Thought

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/02/050211100050.htm

Title: Re: Melatonin ( side effect)
Post by thomas on Feb 9^th, 2007, 8:54am

Well I can see first-hand that it is NOT an issue for me. ;;D

Title: Re: Melatonin ( side effect)
Post by Bob_Johnson on Feb 9^th, 2007, 11:10am

For people using 9-10mg/day as a preventive, this is a cautionary read to be aware of.

Last week the press carried a good report--analysis of side effects of a wide range of supplements--data drawn from hospital ERs and such sources. Melatonin was not showing high levels of side effects but, again, worth looking for this report.

Title: Re: Melatonin ( side effect)
Post by dougW on Feb 9^th, 2007, 1:18pm

Ahhh, the dangers of extrapolation and media sensationalism. Certainly caution should be used when you are taking anything for any condition.
Including taking medical literature at face value!

In the release from UC Berkeley News, the source of that article in 2005 is a quote from Dr. Bentley:
"Bentley noted that melatonin could have good as well as bad effects, but that the current lack of knowledge of the hormone's function in the human brain is troubling."

Yet for some interesting reason only the possible bad effects were discussed. Hmmm.

It may be a (big) stretch to study quails and sparrows and apply those results to humans. Especially when you consider the methods involved in their early and later studies. Several extensive projects by Dr's Bentley and Tsutsui have led to some interesting discoveries (below) but is it applicable to humans? They did not attempt to say so in the studies, yet eh press seems to think it may. Hmmm.

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/102/8
/3052
Melatonin induces the expression of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone in the avian brain
"....Pinealectomy (Px) combined with orbital enucleation (Ex) (Px plus Ex) ....." (removal of pineal gland and the eye)

http://endo.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/147/3/1187
Development and Maintenance by Decreasing Gonadotropin Synthesis and Release in Male Quail
"....Continuous administration of GnIH to mature birds via osmotic pumps for 2 wk...."
"....In immature birds, daily administration of GnIH for 2 wk...."

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/96/8/4674
Seasonal neuroplasticity in the songbird telencephalon: A role for melatonin
"....Twenty-four photorefractory male starlings...8 h light and 6 h darkness per day were castrated under anesthesia...."

Yes, these were good laboratory studies, don't live in a lab if you have CH, and only believe half of what your read.

Thanks for starting this post, as I said at the start, it is good to question everything you take in the treatment of your CH.

Who the heck funds this stuff anyway? ;-)

Doug

Title: Re: Melatonin ( side effect)
Post by chewy on Feb 10^th, 2007, 10:50am

Quote:

In experiments on the Japanese quail

relevance????

Title: Re: Melatonin ( side effect)
Post by georgej on Feb 10^th, 2007, 11:18am

on 02/09/07 at 13:18:22, dougW wrote:

It may be a (big) stretch to study quails and sparrows and apply those results to humans.
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/102/8
/3052
Melatonin induces the expression of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone in the avian brain

I'd be interested to see the effects on primates, let alone mammals.

Birds are quite a bit different in many ways, and are very, very distant relatives.

Best,

George