User:Aarue

This is what I'm editing for Melatonin:

1) Add a 5.6 (Aging) under 5 (In humans) with the following paragraphs:

Aging
Research has supported the anti-aging properties of melatonin. Younger children hit their peak melatonin production at night, and some researchers believe that the level of melatonin peaks earlier as we get older. This may explain why older adults go to bed, wake up earlier, and have more sleep problems than children do.

Some studies have shown that melatonin plays a crucial part in the aging process and that it may act as an anti-aging agent when taken by older adults. It has been reported in one study that while elderly people have different gene expression levels in 100 of 10,000 genes, administration of melatonin may reverse this change in gene expression thus making the genes of elderly people similar to those of younger people.

One study conducted by researchers of the University of Granada’s Institute of Biotechnology found that consuming melatonin may neutralize oxidative damage and delay the neurodegenerative process of aging. When small amounts of melatonin were administered to lab mice, it reduced the oxidative damage caused by aging and delayed the inflammatory process, which in turn increased the longevity of the mice. The researchers hope these results can also be applied to humans.

2) Add to 8.4 (Side Effects) (Some unwanted effects in some people, especially at high doses (~3 mg/day or more) may include: headaches, nausea, next-day grogginess or irritability, hormone fluctuations, vivid dreams or nightmares,[110] and reduced blood flow.) - Hypothermia

3) Add more information about shift work to 5.1 (Circadian Rhythm) Studies have shown that late night shift work may be considered a cancer-causing agent. Melatonin is an anti-oxidant and suppressant of tumor development that is produced at night; when someone works in artificial light, they generally have lower melatonin and may be more likely to develop cancer. Melatonin supplements are useful in that they may simulate the Melatonin production at different times that does not occur during regular sleeping hours for people who work night shifts.

Aarue (talk) 11:15, 28 March 2011 (UTC)