Circadian Rhythm

Melatonin and Pregnancy: How the “Sleep” Hormone Helps During Pregnancy, Labor and Beyond

Healthy pregnancies are essential to the survival of our species. However, due to a lack of willingness to experiment on pregnant women, there is very little research on exactly what it takes to sustain a healthy pregnancy. According to a growing body of knowledge, the pineal gland hormone melatonin, generally associated with sleep, may be essential to having a healthy pregnancy.

Melatonin and Pregnancy

Because pregnancy is so common — after all, it is how we all got here — we forget that it is a complex physiological process that relies on an intricate cascade of hormones and growth factors. According to some studies, melatonin appears to play an important role. Fetuses begin to make melatonin very late in the pregnancy, and even then will not make sufficient amounts until several months after birth. Instead, they rely on melatonin made by their mothers, which appears to cross the placental barrier easily.

Once in the bloodstream of a fetus, melatonin has a variety of important effects. Melatonin increases the viability of both the placenta and the fetus, appearing to work with other hormones to support good pregnancy health. The absence of melatonin, on the other hand, appears to have a negative effect on the neurological development and health of offspring.

Melatonin appears to be especially important in pregnancies that are higher risk. It has been found to be protective in pre-eclampsia, which is one of the most common causes of death in pregnancy among both mothers and babies. According to one study, it even has potential in treating pre-eclampsia.

Melatonin’s antioxidant effects also can protect a fetus from injury when they are exposed to chemicals, either in the environment or from the substance abuse of the mother. Melatonin can also help to prevent the bone damage seen in babies whose mothers used nicotine products while pregnant. It even can protect against some of the prenatal effects of alcohol, which can produce severe physical and cognitive disabilities.

Melatonin’s Role in Labor

The most important hormone in labor and childbirth is oxytocin. This hormone, which is responsible for the feeling of love and other “warm fuzzy” emotions, causes the uterine contractions that compel a fetus into the world. Melatonin appears to have a synergistic effect on oxytocin, encouraging its release and also enhancing its effects.

The effects of melatonin on placental insufficiency also likely has a positive effect on labor and delivery. Placental complications in delivery are rare but remain feared by obstetricians and mothers alike. The placenta is necessary to keep the baby alive but can cause serious hemorrhage during the birth process if it detaches too early or too late. Melatonin’s role in stabilizing the placenta may be crucial in helping mothers through the difficult and painful process of birth. Once the baby is born and the placenta delivered, melatonin continues to play an important role.

Infancy and Beyond

The entire goal of a pregnancy is to give birth to a healthy baby and, ultimately, healthy child. Any hormone that supports a healthy pregnancy and birth will contribute to healthier babies. Melatonin is no exception. It has neuroprotective effects that may protect against autism. According to one study, it can even be protective against high blood pressure much further on in the child’s life.

Many of the studies looking at the long term effects of melatonin were performed on mice, rats and other animals due to the understandable restrictions on experimenting on human infants and fetuses. However, melatonin appears to act in the same manner in all mammals, suggesting that it may have similar effects on human babies. Because melatonin has relatively few side effects, supplementation may be a safe way to give a pregnancy the best possible chance.

Developmental Changes in Circadian Rhythm

A fetus’s circadian rhythm appears to be extremely important to their health and well-being. This does not change as they grow older. Newborns do not make sufficient melatonin on their own but instead get it from their mothers in breast milk, allowing their circadian rhythm to begin mirroring that of their caregivers. As children grow older, having a stable circadian rhythm has been linked to better health, better cognitive function and overall better lifelong health.

Although melatonin supplements can be helpful, the best approach to optimizing melatonin levels is to strive to maintain a healthy circadian rhythm. Most people make enough of this hormone to support good sleep habits and good health when they practice good sleep hygiene and get plenty of sleep.

Melatonin is not just for sleep, although this remains its best-known and likely most important role in human health. This hormone is made by our bodies for a variety of purposes, from cell repair to antioxidant activities. Although we associate it most with the circadian rhythm, it is an important part of life from conception through old age.

Why You Should Always Take Vitamin B6 in the Morning

May 16 by Ewcopywriting

Most people are aware of the importance of getting sufficient vitamins in our daily diet, whether from foods or from supplements. However, new research suggests that it is also important to get these critical nutrients at the correct time of day. This may be particularly important with vitamin B6, a vitamin that plays a key role in energy production. Could the timing of your vitamin intake have an impact on your health and well-being? Should you be taking vitamin B6 in the morning? Read on to find out.

Vitamin B6’s Role in Energy

Like many B vitamins, vitamin B6 is best known for its role in energy production. Also known as pyridoxine, this vitamin acts as a cofactor in several important metabolic processes. Most notably, it is crucial in creating energy for our cells. Although taking more than the daily recommended amount of vitamin B6 has not been found to increase energy per se, not having enough of this nutrient can cause fatigue as well as other unpleasant symptoms.

Vitamin B6 also plays an important role in the creation of certain neurochemicals. Perhaps most significantly, it plays a critical role in the creation of serotonin from its precursor tryptophan. Even a mild deficiency of vitamin B6 can negatively affect serotonin levels, leaving us feeling fatigued and out of sorts. When serotonin levels drop, people may experience a wide variety of unpleasant effects, including changes in their circadian rhythm and mood.

Although serotonin levels are important to our health in a variety of ways, there are very few medications that work to help to keep this hormone stable. SSRIs, antidepressant drugs that increase serotonin, can cause increases in blood serotonin. However, the increase is often very small. For many people, the best way to influence serotonin levels is to take vitamin B6, tryptophan and other substances that play a part in serotonin synthesis. This naturally encourages the body to create more of this key hormone, solving the root problem without side effects or risks.

Serotonin and Sleep

Why do we need so much serotonin in the first place? Serotonin is one of the most effective multi-taskers in the human body, affecting almost every aspect of our health. Produced in the pineal gland along with melatonin and other neurochemicals, this hormone is best known for its role in creating a sense of happiness and well-being. However, it also has other important functions. For example, it has critical roles in heart health, digestion and even metabolism.

Most notably, serotonin appears to be extremely important in sleep regulation. When levels of this hormone are high, we feel energetic and alert. When they are low, we are more likely to feel sleepy. Sometimes this sleepiness is necessary and healthy, such as at night when we are trying to sleep. Serotonin does not just help us to sleep, but also promotes healthy sleep-wake cycles. Our levels are lowest when we are in REM sleep, which is the phase in which we dream.

Although higher levels of serotonin are associated with greater happiness and well-being, timing is an important factor. High levels of serotonin are most beneficial during the day, while they could actually cause insomnia if this hormone is high at night. As with all other aspects of health, timing is an important factor.

Why Take Vitamin B6 in the Morning?

Because vitamin B6 is important to the manufacture of serotonin, it is best taken when we first awake in the morning. We sleep more soundly and dream best when our serotonin levels are low. On the other hand, we benefit from a boost of serotonin during the day. Taking B6 as well as other energy-promoting vitamins in the morning just may give you the extra energy and mood boost that you need to get the day to a pleasant and productive start.

Although it may seem unusual that time of day matters in taking vitamins, new research in the field of chronobiology is discovering an increasing number of ways that timing can make a huge difference in health. In addition, to vitamins, several medications have been found to be more effective or have fewer side effects when taken at specific times of the day. The more we can work with our internal clocks, the better results we can expect.

Getting Your Day Off to a Great Start

Although supplementing with vitamin B6 is a great way to boost morning energy, there are several healthy and natural ways to make sure you have the get-up-and-go that you need to get up and go. Make sure you get around six to eight hours of rest every night. Go to bed and awaken at the same time every day to ensure that your circadian clocks keep ticking on time. Rather than a cup of coffee, reach for a healthy breakfast and a multivitamin with B6 as well as other vitamins that promote energy.

Diabetes Research Update: Meal Timing Affects Blood Sugar and Diabetes Risk

May 08 by Ewcopywriting

Type 2 diabetes is on the rise, affecting over 30 million Americans — over 10 percent of the population — each year. Despite recommendations regarding what to eat and other lifestyle changes, science has been unable to slow the proliferation of this “modern-day” disease. Now, new findings reveal that meal timing affects blood sugar. This crucial information may lead to a more effective manner of controlling glucose levels for diabetics.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Before you can understand how meal timing affects blood glucose levels, it’s important to understand how type 2 diabetes affects the body. Essentially, the body uses sugar (glucose) for energy by pushing that sugar from the bloodstream into the cells. Once within the cells, glucose can be used to power a number of functions throughout the body. In order to get the glucose into those cells, the body relies on a hormone called insulin, which transports the glucose. Higher levels of sugar in the bloodstream means that a higher level of insulin must be produced to effectively usher that sugar into the cells for use as energy.

When there are consistently high levels of sugar in the blood, the body’s insulin production goes into overdrive. If this becomes a prolonged situation, the body will eventually build up a tolerance to insulin. This will either result in the body’s inability to create enough insulin to process the high glucose levels, or the insulin that is produced may not be powerful enough to move the sugar into the cells. Eventually, chronic higher-than-normal blood glucose levels result in type 2 diabetes.

The most common symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:

Increased Thirst and Urination

This can be a difficult symptom to recognize, because it can seem like part of a logical and normal cycle. It begins with increased thirst and, as you consume more water, you’ll naturally have to urinate more. You’ll likely wake up several times throughout the night to drink more water or urinate.

Frequent Hunger

You may also notice that you’re hungry more often. This is because the sugar in your blood supply isn’t being processed by your cells, which means those cells are starving for energy. As a result, your cravings for food will become stronger and more frequent.

Unexplained Weight Loss

Since the sugar in your blood can’t be processed by your cells, they will have to use previously stored fat for energy. This often results in weight loss, which is not the result of healthier eating and increased physical activity.

Bouts of Fatigue

As previously mentioned, the body’s inability to process sugar leaves cells with few alternatives for creating energy. This means you’ll tire out more easily and you’ll feel fatigued more often.

Blurred Vision

Cells in need of energy will draw sustenance from all over the body, including taking the moisture from around the eyes. As a result, your eyes will become dry and inflamed. This usually leads to vision that is temporarily more blurred.

Inhibited Immune System

Due to slower blood flow throughout the body, and vitamin deficiencies that are common among diabetics, the immune system isn’t as strong as it should be. As a result, it can take longer for wounds to heal and there is also an increased risk of contracting illnesses or infections.

Research Discovers Meal Timing Affects Blood Sugar

While the importance of eating healthy plant-based foods remains an important factor in controlling blood sugar levels, researchers have found that eating within a specific nine-hour time frame also has a noteworthy impact on blood sugar levels. In a previous research project, mice were fed a high-fat diet, but were only delivered their meals between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on a daily basis. The improved glucose levels observed in the mice inspired researchers who hoped to confirm the findings with further studies. Specifically, teams from Australia’s University of Adelaide and California’s Salk Institute for Biological Studies hoped to reproduce the findings in human subjects.

This most recent study involved 15 men between the ages of 30 and 70 who were at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and who were also overweight, with a waist circumference of 102 centimeters or more. Over a one-week period, the men were restricted to a similar eating schedule as in the previous animal study. Some participants took all of their meals between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., while others were able to eat their meals between noon and 9:00 p.m. In either case, all participants had to adhere to the nine-hour time frame established in the earlier study.

By the end of the trial, men in both groups exhibited better blood sugar management. The men also experienced weight loss as a result of the altered eating schedule. The research authors noted that because the men had been asked to eat whatever foods they would normally consume, the results were not produced by healthier eating choices.

More Benefits of Adhering to a Strict Meal Schedule

Now that we know meal timing affects blood sugar, we’re also becoming aware that adhering to a strict schedule also provides other benefits. Over time, your body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm, will adjust to your eating schedule. This means you won’t feel the need to snack as often. You’ll feel hungry as your normal meal time approaches, but you’ll get fewer cravings at other times during the day.

Additionally, the way meal times interact with the circadian rhythm can affect your ability to manage your weight. This is why people who eat later in the evening, especially after the sun has set, are more likely to put on extra pounds. Limiting your eating to daylight hours can help you maintain your weight, and may even help you lose weight.

Eating during daylight hours can also help your body make more efficient use of the vitamins, nutrients and protein in your diet. Since your digestive system and gut microbiome are more active during these hours, they can more efficiently extract healthy nutrients. Those nutrients may help keep the skin smooth, or help organs throughout the body function better. In the end, when you eat may be just as important to your health as the types of foods you consume.

Proven: The Anti-Aging Effects of Fasting

Feb 20 by Ewcopywriting

Fasting, particularly intermittent fasting, is one of the leading trends in weight loss and fitness. But unlike some popular “fad” diets, this one appears to be here to stay. Several new studies have found that intermittent fasting can have positive health effects even outside of the weight benefits. A recent study on the anti-aging effects of fasting suggests that it may even slow down the biochemical process of aging.

What Is Intermittent Fasting?

Humans have fasted for millennia, mainly for religious or spiritual reasons. In modern times, however, many people are realizing that certain types of fasting can have dramatic health benefits. Intermittent fasting is one such type of fasting. In this type of fasting, people go a specific time period without food or calories followed by a time period during which they can eat. The most common time blocks are 16:8, where the fasting period lasts 16 hours and eating is allowed during an eight-hour span each day. However, other popular diets may incorporate slightly shorter fasting periods.

Although maintaining this type of eating schedule may sound difficult, most people find it quite easy once they get used to it. If you think about it, you already fast for around eight hours while sleeping. A person using the 16:8 method, for example, could delay breakfast until noon and eat their last meal before 8 PM.

A growing number of people are using intermittent fasting for the metabolic benefits. Studies have found that eating in this way can increase weight loss, improve your metabolism and help you to gain a leaner and more toned physique. However, research has discovered that the benefits of fasting appear to extend far beyond the superficial.

Metabolic and Anti-Aging Effects of Fasting

Although fasting is often seen as a decision made for either religious or weight loss benefits, there are other reasons to consider this lifestyle. According to recent research, people who fast do not just enjoy a faster metabolism, but also more anti-oxidant activity throughout the body. Fasting may also even slow down the effects of aging; both the visible signs as well as changes deep in our cells.

In a recent stufy, researchers collected blood samples from healthy people who were fasting as well as healthy people who were eating normally. The people who were fasting had higher levels of certain amino acids and certain metabolites that are known to decline with age. These metabolites are seen as a marker of cellular aging, as they naturally gradually decline as we grow older. The fact that fasting individuals had higher levels suggests that their cells were not aging as quickly as normal.

Second, the people who were fasting had higher levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants are crucial in preventing not just aging, but a wide variety of diseases from cancer to heart disease. They help to remove damaging oxygen molecules from our cells and to repair the DNA damage we incur throughout our days.

This is just one study, so we don’t yet understand the mechanism behind these changes. However, so far, the research on fasting is very promising.

Other Health Effects of Fasting

There have been other studies showing the positive effects to fasting — even short term fasting such as intermittent fasting. One study showed that intermittent fasting reduced the aging process of our blood vessels, preventing devastating health events such as heart attack and stroke. It also appears to turn a “metabolic switch” that helps to repair the lining of our gastrointestinal tract, which is particularly important for people with delicate digestion.

Many people are turning to intermittent fasting for weight loss. Although we initially believed that food restriction was the source of the dramatic weight loss seen on this eating plan, we now know that this is not the case. There have been several studies in which lab animals divided into free eating and intermittent fasting groups have been fed the same amount of food. The intermittent fasting groups reliably lose weight faster. In addition, they show metabolic changes that put them at lower risk of both diabetes and obesity. This weight loss appears to be at least partially due to changes in the circadian rhythm.

Is Intermittent Fasting Right for You?

Intermittent fasting is more than just a fad diet. Rather, it is a meaningful and sustainable change in eating habits that can have a variety of positive health effects. If you are like many people just learning about the benefits of intermittent fasting, you may be wondering if it is right for you.

The health benefits of this diet are clear and in fact will be an advantage for most people, whether you are trying to lose weight or just to improve your health. Although many people find fasting to be a challenge in the first few weeks, most will quickly adjust to the new time-limited eating plan. Eating in a way that supports a healthy circadian rhythm, while also supplementing with dietary ingredients that support healthy weight maintenance, can help you to achieve the optimal health you deserve.

New Study Discovers Simple Way to Prevent Holiday Weight Gain

Dec 20 by Ewcopywriting

The holiday season is an especially problematic time when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight, simply because many holiday traditions in themselves are unhealthy. People tend to gorge themselves on foods that are high in saturated fats and sugar, while at the same time taking a break from regular routines and becoming more sedentary. Each year, the average individual packs on 0.9 to 2.2 pounds and most of that is the result of holiday feasting. While that may not seem like much, it adds up — and people rarely lose what they gained after the holidays pass, despite making ambitious New Year’s resolutions. But there is hope! New research into how to maintain a healthy weight has revealed a simple, scientifically-backed way to combat holiday weight gain, so you can enjoy the season without feeling guilty.

Controlling Holiday Weight Gain May Help Combat Obesity

A new body of research, dubbed the Winter Weight Watch Study, was intended to identify ways people could avoid weight gain over the holidays. Researchers at the University of Birmingham and at the United Kingdom’s Loughborough University worked jointly to study test groups throughout the 2016 and 2017 Christmas seasons. Their goal was to find out how effective a simple method of intervention would be in combating weight gain through the holidays.

The study involved a total of 272 people. The researchers report that 78 percent of the participants were female. The subjects were divided up into an intervention group and a control group. At the start of the trial in November, the subjects were required to weigh in and that weight was compared to their weight in follow-up exams conducted in January of that same season. Those in the intervention group were asked to weigh themselves two or more times each week, while also spending time contemplating their weight management goals. The reasoning behind these activities was to make the subjects more mindful of energy consumption. Researchers supplied each subject with tips on keeping better control of their weight, such as providing a chart that showed how much exercise would be required to burn fat from eating specific holiday foods. Alternatively, the control group was only given a paper showcasing tips for healthy living.

By the end of the trial, researchers concluded that those in the intervention group gained 1.1 pounds less than those in the control group. This was after accounting for other variables that might have impacted the study’s findings. Those in the intervention group exhibited better portion control and lower calorie intake than those in the other group. While the research team expected more significant findings, they’re still encouraged by these results.

When You Eat Your Holiday Dinner May Affect Weight Gain

You may know that the body has its own internal clock that keeps it on a 24-hour day-night cycle, known as the circadian rhythm. This internal clock regulates body functions in relation to properly timed patterns. Now, new research suggests this clock also controls how mitochondria burn sugar for energy. In a recent study, teams at Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science and Germany’s Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry determined that this system identifies peak times for our bodies to burn sugar and other energy-producing compounds. People who develop irregular sleep and eating patterns disrupt the circadian rhythm, which can increase the risks of obesity and illness. When someone alters their normal routine, these processes are thrown off and weight gain becomes more likely.

The study looked at how the mitochondrial proteins in mice changed based on the time of day. It was revealed that the proteins peaked only once per day, but, for each mouse, the time of day or night that the mitochondrial proteins peaked was different. Even though mice are nocturnal, the proteins peaked four hours into their daylight cycle. It was discovered that this was the period during which the mice’s bodies experienced heightened respiration and glucose usage. Genetically engineered mice did not show this same distinctive pattern, indicating that their circadian rhythms were abnormal. These mice processed fat and sugar steadily throughout the 24-hour period.

In a previous study, one group of mice was fed at night, when they’re more active, while a control group was fed during the day. Those findings showed that mice eating during their active times exhibited lipid levels that were half those of the daytime-fed mice. This indicates that eating at a specific time may help to prevent weight gain. Dr. Asher, who led the more recent study, says more research is needed to evaluate how timing affects cellular activity. He feels hopeful that further research findings will help people use the circadian rhythm to prevent weight gain.

What Can You Do to Prevent Weight Gain During the Holidays?

While controlling obesity based on the body’s circadian rhythm may still be a few years off, you can still take action to limit or prevent gaining weight throughout this time of year. If you have your heart set on indulging in your favorite holiday foods, you might want to try intermittent fasting. You can do this by fasting every other day, fasting two days out of the week or fasting for 16 hours a day. This doesn’t mean going without food entirely during your fasting periods. Instead, intake just 30 percent of your body’s energy needs, or up to 600 calories.

Another effective way to limit holiday weight gain is to track your calorie intake and your daily exercise workouts. Many smartphone apps are available to help you track all of this data in one place, helping you analyze your efforts. This can help you combat weight gain more proactively during the holidays and throughout the year.

Another possibility is to consume natural foods and drinks that boost the body’s metabolism. Green tea is often suggested to help fight off disease, because of the antioxidants it carries, but it also serves to stimulate the body’s metabolism. Drinking more green tea throughout the holidays can help you counteract the effects of those unhealthy foods you’ll probably be eating. Other natural ingredients that have been found to promote a healthy weight and combat fat storage are bitter orange and African Mango. Adding these to your diet may also help you maintain a healthy weight.

As you engage in your holiday traditions, it’s important to remember that the foods you eat will have a lasting effect. By being more mindful of your portions and the types of foods you eat, you’ll be better prepared to manage your weight. Maintaining a healthy diet and a good level of physical activity can help you get through the holidays without adding unwanted weight.

The Little-Known Connection Between Melatonin and Fertility

Nov 26 by Ewcopywriting

Many people associate melatonin with sleep — with good reason. Helping to regulate and maintain the circadian rhythm appears to be the most important and best-known role of this pineal gland hormone. However, melatonin also plays a variety of other important roles in the human body. According to recent studies on melatonin and fertility, it may play a very important role in helping couples to conceive.

Infertility: A Growing Modern Problem

For reasons that doctors and scientists do not fully understand, an increasing number of people are struggling with infertility. Only one in six couples trying to conceive will be able to do so in a reasonable amount of time, generally defined as around a year.

Infertility has classically been seen as a female problem, but men are contributing increasingly to low pregnancy rates. Causes that can be attributed to the male are now behind around 30 percent of infertility cases. For reasons that are not completely understood, sperm counts around the world have dropped dramatically and are continuing to fall. An increasing number of couples are seeking IVF and other fertility treatments, making reproductive technology one of the fastest growing fields of medicine. Despite this medical assistance, birth rates in the developed world are below replacement rates and continuing to fall.

What is causing this decline in fertility? There are several hypotheses, including estrogens in the water supply, increased pollution of water and air, radiation from smart devices and a general inclination to wait until later in life to conceive. Regardless of the cause, several studies suggest that melatonin may be part of the answer.

Could Melatonin Affect Egg Quality?

The rise in in-vitro fertilization has allowed scientists to study in depth what factors make an egg healthier and more likely to successfully become an embryo. The life cycle of an egg is complex and extremely important to fertilization, making it a popular avenue of study in the fertility world. Eggs, or oocytes, spend most of a woman’s life dormant in her ovary. When stimulated, a single egg begins to mature and resumes cell division. It matures in a follicle until it is released. From here, it travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus, where it is hopefully fertilized. If a couple is undergoing IVF, the egg is instead harvested.

Melatonin fluids in follicular fluid have been found to predict the health of the future egg. Melatonin also appears to protect eggs from oxidative stress during the collection and fertilization process, which in turn improves the chances of successful fertilization and implantation.

Simply giving melatonin to women trying to conceive has been found to improve egg quality as well as increase the chances of a successful pregnancy. Although these are all small studies, they definitely suggest that melatonin is crucial to conceiving and carrying a pregnancy, especially for women struggling with infertility.

Melatonin and Fertility in Males

Melatonin is important to the fertility of women, but it also appears to play a role in the fertility of men. High melatonin levels have been linked to sperm quality in both living men and in storage for insemination. This appears to be partly due to melatonin’s role as an antioxidant, preventing damage to DNA in semen.

However, melatonin may play another role as well, one that is increasingly important in the modern world: protecting sperm from damage due to pollutants. For men who live in areas where water and air quality are affecting fertility rates, this could be an immense advantage.

Although melatonin alone cannot cure male infertility (that we know of, at least), it appears to have an important role in male fertility. Men who are on the borderline between infertility and conception may especially benefit from taking a nightly supplement or from taking care to keep their natural production of melatonin high.

Links Between Circadian Rhythm and Fertility

Many of these studies have been performed in-vitro, on eggs that are fertilized in dishes for use in IVF and other reproductive technologies. However, the findings also likely apply to conceptions that occur the natural way. Because melatonin is a natural antioxidant and free radical scavenger, it can prevent cells from getting damaged from respiration and other activities. This is likely part of the reason that both eggs and sperm fare better when exposed to melatonin.

However, there may be other causes of the link between a healthy circadian rhythm and fertility. Melatonin appears to contribute to healthy hormonal cycles in women, which are essential for conception and pregnancy. In addition, people who have irregular melatonin may also have other health risk factors such as obesity or type 2 diabetes, as both of these have been linked to low melatonin levels.

There definitely appears to be a link between melatonin and fertility rates; one that may become increasingly important as infertility rates increase around the world. Although the causality remains in question, people nonetheless may find they are more fertile when they lead a healthy lifestyle, including getting plenty of sleep and keeping their circadian rhythm well-regulated.