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By Anne-Marie Chalmers, MD
“I don’t need melatonin – I sleep like a log.”
That’s the knee-jerk reaction many people have when they hear the word “melatonin.”
It’s true that melatonin influences our sleep and helps regulate our circadian rhythm. But melatonin’s effects extend far beyond getting a good night’s rest.
Today, melatonin is getting attention in cancer medicine, as well as for many brain and eye issues. In addition, at Omega3 Innovations, we’re excited about how this natural hormone potentiates omega-3 fish oil benefits.
Let’s take a closer look at the advantages of melatonin, and why it makes an excellent partner to any omega-3 regimen.
Melatonin’s Antioxidant Benefits
Melatonin’s primordial function had nothing to do with sleep. Around 3 billion years ago, bacteria started synthesizing this ancient molecule as an antioxidant to protect against free radicals.
This antioxidant property continues to benefit human health, too. After all, antioxidants are how the body protects itself against free radicals. Chronically high levels of free radicals – whether coming from fried foods, alcohol, smoking, UV-radiation, pollution, or other nefarious sources – can damage cells. If unchecked, free radicals overwhelm the body and create oxidative stress. Oxidative stress, in turn, fuels many common diseases.
Melatonin’s antioxidant properties make it a promising antidote for many conditions exacerbated by oxidative stress, and the applications don’t stop there!
May Protect Omega-3s
Long-chained omega-3 fatty acids are characterized by multiple double bonds, which give them their unique flexibility. However, these double bonds also make omega-3s susceptible to free radicals.
When the omega-3 molecule encounters free radicals, the fatty acid is destabilized, causing it to oxidize. As it oxidizes, the omega-3 molecule loses potency and releases new byproducts that smell and taste bad.
One of the primary ways to protect an omega-3 oil from oxidizing is to add antioxidants – and that’s exactly where melatonin comes in!
Melatonin has been shown to be more powerful than popular antioxidants like vitamin C and E. Plus, one study found that adding certain concentrations of melatonin almost completely halted the lipid peroxidation of omega-3 molecules.
May Increase Omega-3 Levels
Melatonin may also promote the absorption of certain types of beneficial omega-3s. In one rat study, researchers found that melatonin increased EPA levels by 43-60%, thereby restoring the ratio of EPA to arachidonic acid (AA).
This is vital because the EPA:AA ratio indicates the level of inflammation in the body. It’s also a strong predictor of heart disease, cancer, and other health issues.
Omega-3s Affect Melatonin
Numerous studies suggest that melatonin also benefits from its interaction with omega-3s.
The pineal gland is the part of the brain responsible for secreting melatonin at night. Intriguingly, the omega-3 fatty acid DHA makes up a big portion of the fats in this gland. For that reason, some scientists believe the pineal gland may be synergistically regulated by omega-3s.
One study found omega-3-deficient hamsters had a 52% lower level of melatonin at night compared to the control group.
Furthermore, a 2021 meta-analysis determined that children with higher omega-3 levels had fewer sleep disturbances. And a study of healthy adults aged 25 – 49 showed fish oil supplementation improved sleep efficiency.
While more research is needed, these studies support the theory that omega-3s may influence our melatonin synthesis.
Omega-3 and Melatonin’s Synergistic Benefits
Melatonin and omega-3s also complement each other on multiple health fronts:
Take inflammation, for instance. Both omega-3s and melatonin inhibit the production of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines, like IL-6.
These nutrients also have independent ways of fighting inflammation. Omega-3s, for example, give rise to specialized pro-resolving mediators, which are deeply involved in healing the body from inflammation and disease. Meanwhile, melatonin inhibits a host of inflammation-driving signals and reduces inflammation through its antioxidant properties.
Improve Cell Signaling
Omega-3s and melatonin also work together to improve cell signaling.
If our cells aren’t signaling properly, we don’t function well. For instance, a lack of omega-3s is linked with decreased learning ability and focus – most likely due to poor cell signaling in the brain.
Omega-3s facilitate signals between cells and different organelles within the cell. Melatonin allows omega-3s to have greater mobility in the cell membrane, which further improves the transmission of cell signals. Think of it as behaving similarly to when you move around your home to get better reception for your cell phone signal.
Why Combine Fish Oil and Melatonin
As you can see, infusing melatonin into high-quality fish oil is about more than sleep. The dynamic interaction of these amazing compounds is a game-changer for all of us concerned about inflammation and oxidative stress.
Whether or not you nap like a log, melatonin plus omega-3s may be the night cap of your wellness dreams.
This article was abbreviated from a longer version published on omega3innovations.com. For the full text and references, visit:
https://staging.omega3innovations.com/blog/melatonin-with-omega-3-not-just-for-getting-better-sleep/
About Anne-Marie Chalmers, MD
Born and raised in the United States, Dr. Chalmers graduated from Brown University and completed her medical training at the University of Oslo in Norway. Dr. Chalmers practiced medicine in Norway for many years. Today, she serves as president of Omega3 Innovations.
Omega 3 Innovations
941.485.4400
www.omega3innovations.com
