Melatonin, also known chemically as N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, is a naturally occurring compound found in animals, plants, and microbes. In humans and other higher animals, melatonin is produced by pinealocytes in the pineal gland (located in the brain, but outside the blood-brain barrier), also in the retina, lens, GI tract, and other tissues.
Production of melatonin by the pineal gland is under the influence of the SCN (suprachiasmatic nuclei) of the hypothalamus, which receives information from the retina about the daily patterns of light and darkness.
Melatonin is generally available in a variety of forms – capsule, pills, gummies and liquid. You can buy melatonin through a variety of outlets. This we will discuss later in this post.
Firstly, let’s take a look at the various role’s melatonin plays.