The Role Of Melatonin In The Treatment Of Obesity
Obesity can be defined as a generalized excess of body fat caused by a positive energy balance. It is due to a multifactorial whole linked to the physical, psychological and social sphere of the human being. Do you know what the role of melatonin is in the management of obesity?
Most obese people suffer from so-called chrono-destruction; it is an internal imbalance largely represented by sleep disturbances and which leads to the accumulation of additional body fat.
It follows that improving sleep quality is essential ; and melatonin plays an interesting role in this.
Sleep and obesity
Sleep is essential for restoring cellular energy reserves and homeostasis of the central nervous system and other tissues. Both functions guarantee a correct functioning of the body, therefore an adequate body composition.
On the other hand, it is known that obesity sufferers often go to bed late and cannot sleep well at night. This leads to being tired during the day and, due to weakness, eating more (to gain energy) and moving less (to save energy).
At the same time, in the case of obesity, the body tends towards an unbalanced diet. This happens because the lack of sleep creates malaise that is buffered with the pleasant stimulus par excellence: the combination of fat, salt and sugar.
This mix is what we call “junk food”, which is one of the main sources of pleasure due to the dopamine release that results.
All this leads to feeling full of energy at the end of the day, therefore going to bed late. This will further increase the possibility of using junk food as a source of entertainment to escape boredom.
The role of melatonin in the treatment of obesity
Melatonin is a hormone synthesized by the body with the main task of regulating the sleep wake cycle. In other words, it decides when we need to sleep and when to stay awake. It is regulated by light, so those who do not undergo natural light alter the entire internal rhythm.
As we have said, most obese people have difficulty maintaining quality sleep; this not only indicates that his circadian rhythm is altered, but also reinforces this alteration. This is why, in addition to improving sleep hygiene, a melatonin-based supplementation can be decisive.
A 2018 study on guinea pigs shows that long-term melatonin supplementation promotes the transformation of (harmful) white fat into beige fat (with fat-burning activity); it also increases the thermogenic activity of brown fat. The result of this research was published in the Journal of Pineal Research .
Integration with melatonin
Supplementation consists in taking 2 mg of melatonin in prolonged-release tablets. The ideal time to take it is 2 – 3 hours before going to bed, although it may vary depending on the person.
However, the latest research has considered higher doses: the results have been positive for doses up to 100 mg, with no negative effects. This is what is indicated by an article published in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology .
In any case, melatonin supplementation should always be established by the specialist. He will indicate the correct dose, will evaluate the most appropriate time of day to take it and the possible interactions with other drugs.
