Melatonin
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pineal gland in our brains. Melatonin helps regulate our circadian rhythm (body clock) which dictates our sleep/wake cycles. It plays a critical role in helping us fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. It also regulates the release of hormones that control body temperature, hunger, energy and even mood. It may also have a roll in the biological regulation tumour growth, aging and perhaps reproduction.
In the biosynthesis of melatonin, tryptophan is converted to 5-hydroxytryptophan, which is then decarboxylated to serotonin (an important neurotransmitter). Serotonin is then catalysed by two enzymes to form melatonin. In humans, melatonin secretion increases soon after the onset of darkness, peaks in the middle of the night (between 2 and 4 am), and gradually falls during the second half of the night. Serum levels of melatonin are known to decrease with age which may contribute to the increased frequency of sleep disorders in the elderly and the aging process itself.
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