Melatonin: The Most Underrated Hormone in Your Body

When most people think of melatonin, they think of a small pill that helps them fall asleep. But melatonin is so much more than a “sleep aid.” In fact, it’s one of the body’s most powerful hormones and antioxidants—produced not just in your brain, but in nearly every cell in your body.

At our hormone replacement and wellness clinic, we use melatonin strategically—not just for sleep, but for immune function, detoxification, cellular health, and even hormone balance.

Myth: “If I take melatonin, my body will stop making its own.”

This is one of the most common misconceptions—and it’s not supported by science.Unlike testosterone or cortisol, melatonin is not regulated by a negative feedback loop. It’s synthesized in nearly every tissue in your body—especially in the gastrointestinal tract, which actually produces up to 500 times more melatonin than the pineal gland (1).

That means supplementing with melatonin does not suppress your natural production. Clinical studies across age groups—even long-term, high-dose use—have not shown melatonin dependence or “shut-down” of endogenous secretion (2).

Melatonin’s Real Role: A Master Antioxidant and Mitochondrial Protector

Melatonin’s most critical role isn’t putting you to sleep—it’s protecting your cells.

Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant, in many ways more potent than glutathione (3).It neutralizes free radicals, protects mitochondria (your cell’s energy engines), and supports healthy metabolism. It also enhances the body’s own antioxidant enzymes, promoting resilience against stress, toxins, and aging (4).

Because of its pro-mitochondrial and detoxification properties, melatonin can help chelate heavy metals, support liver function, and improve overall metabolic efficiency (5).

Melatonin and Cancer: An Overlooked Adjunct Therapy

Several studies show melatonin has anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic properties across various cancer types (6, 7).When used as an adjunct to chemotherapy, doses around 20 mg nightly have been shown to improve one-year survival rates and reduce chemotherapy-related side effects (8).

These effects are thought to come from melatonin’s ability to modulate inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune cell activity—essentially helping the body defend itself while under heavy treatment.

Melatonin and Hormones: Cortisol, Fertility, and Beyond

Melatonin interacts with other key hormones:

• Cortisol — It helps lower nighttime cortisol levels, improving stress resilience and sleep quality (9).

• Reproductive hormones — Far from disrupting fertility, melatonin actually supports ovulation and sperm health (10).

• Thyroid and metabolism — It may influence thyroid and insulin signaling, supporting better metabolic health (11).

Women in perimenopause or menopause often have falling melatonin levels, and supplementation may improve mood, sleep, and weight stability when used alongside hormone therapy (12).

Melatonin and the Gut: Your Second Source of Melatonin

The gut produces 400–500 times more melatonin than the brain (13).This intestinal melatonin helps regulate motility, protects the gut lining, balances the microbiome, and reduces lipopolysaccharide (LPS) release—an inflammatory endotoxin linked to fatigue, brain fog, and metabolic dysfunction (14).

Patients with chronic illness, autoimmune disease, or IBS-like symptoms may benefit from addressing gut-derived melatonin function as part of a holistic plan.

How Melatonin Changes with Age

Melatonin levels naturally decline after age 40–45, which may contribute to sleep disturbances, reduced mitochondrial function, and higher risk of oxidative stress-related disease (15).

That’s why adults—especially those with chronic inflammation, hormone imbalance, or immune challenges—may benefit from strategic melatonin support under clinical guidance.

The Importance of Individualized Dosing

Melatonin needs vary widely based on age, health goals, and specific conditions. For example:

• Younger adults may use it primarily for sleep support and circadian balance.

• Adults over 40–45 often experience naturally lower melatonin production and may benefit from higher physiological replacement for wellness, aging, and cellular protection.

• Individuals addressing chronic illness, autoimmunity, or cancer prevention may require specialized dosing protocols supported by evidence-based research.

At Vantage Health, we tailor melatonin therapy using clinical evaluation, lab testing, and evidence-based dosing strategies to ensure each patient receives the right dose for their individual goals and physiology.

High-dose melatonin is being studied for various conditions, but should always be supervised by a medical professional to ensure safety and optimize outcomes (16).

Key Takeaway

Melatonin is far more than a sleep aid—it’s an antioxidant, mitochondrial protector, hormone regulator, and immune modulator.At our clinic, we believe melatonin can be one of the most underutilized yet profoundly beneficial therapies available when integrated into a personalized hormone and wellness plan.

Please send us a message if you’d like to learn more about melatonin therapy, dosing, and how it might complement your current health goals!

Works Cited (MLA Style)

1. Bubenik, G. A. “Gastrointestinal Melatonin: Localization, Function, and Clinical Relevance.” Digestive Diseases and Sciences, vol. 47, no. 10, 2002, pp. 2336–2348.

2. Andersen, L. P., et al. “The Safety of Melatonin in Humans.” Clinical Drug Investigation, vol. 36, no. 3, 2016, pp. 169–175.

3. Reiter, R. J., et al. “Melatonin as an Antioxidant: Biochemical Mechanisms and Pathophysiological Implications.” Nature Reviews Endocrinology, vol. 17, 2021, pp. 175–196.

4. Tan, D. X., et al. “Melatonin as a Potent Endogenous Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenger.” Current Neuropharmacology, vol. 19, no. 7, 2021, pp. 1019–1032.

5. Hardeland, R. “Melatonin and the Pathophysiology of Cellular Energy Metabolism: Mitochondrial Protection and Antiaging.” Ageing Research Reviews, vol. 72, 2021.

6. Hill, S. M., and S. M. Blask. “Effects of the Pineal Hormone Melatonin on Cancer.” Cancer Research, vol. 39, 2014, pp. 265–286.

7. Reiter, R. J., et al. “Therapeutic Actions of Melatonin in Cancer: Antioxidant, Oncostatic, and Immunomodulatory Effects.” Molecules, vol. 26, no. 16, 2021.

8. Wang, Y., et al. “Efficacy of Melatonin as an Adjuvant Therapy in Cancer Patients: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.” Journal of Pineal Research, vol. 68, no. 4, 2020.

9. Claustrat, B., et al. “Melatonin and Cortisol Rhythms in Depression, Sleep Disorders, and Stress.” Sleep Medicine Reviews, vol. 17, no. 6, 2013.

10. Tamura, H., et al. “Melatonin and Female Reproduction: Therapeutic Implications.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 21, no. 8, 2020.

11. Stacchiotti, A., et al. “Melatonin’s Regulation of Mitochondrial Function in Metabolic Disease.” Antioxidants, vol. 10, no. 7, 2021.

12. Parandavar, N., et al. “The Effect of Melatonin on Climacteric Symptoms in Perimenopausal Women.” Menopause, 2014.

13. Konturek, P. C., et al. “Role of Melatonin in the Gastrointestinal Tract.” World Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 23, no. 16, 2017.

14. Jaworek, J., et al. “Melatonin and the Gut Microbiota: Interactions and Health Implications.” Nutrients, vol. 14, no. 3, 2022.

15. Hardeland, R. “Melatonin and Aging: Pathophysiological Implications and Therapeutic Opportunities.” Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences, vol. 76, no. 3, 2021.

16. Tuft, C., et al. “Risks and Benefits of Long-Term Melatonin Use: A Systematic Review.” Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2022.