Sleep hormone melatonin may improve bone strength and help with arthritis

Melatonin could be a useful agent for controlling, diminishing or suppressing bone-related disorders including osteoporosis and benefit people with arthritis.

Ageing populations around the world mean it’s more important than ever to find ways to improve bone health. Fractures in older people reduce quality of life and place enormous cost burdens on health systems.

What is melatonin?

Melatonin, a hormone made naturally by a gland in the brain, helps control the sleep cycle. The body releases melatonin after dusk, reaching its highest levels in the early hours of the morning and diminishing during daylight hours. Melatonin promotes sleep by acting on receptors in the body. Melatonin tablets supplement the body’s existing hormone levels, assisting in falling asleep more easily and enhancing the overall quality of your sleep.

What does the new review show?

There has been some positive research about melatonin’s effects on bone-related diseases. A team recently reviewed clinical studies and lab work, reporting their findings in Osteoporosis International.

As well as helping with sleep issues, the biological effects of melatonin have “a beneficial effect in bone- and cartilage-related disorders such as osteoporosis, bone fracture healing, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis,” the team highlights.

Click here to read the original research.

PS Did you know that Arthritis Digest Magazine is labelled the best UK Arthritis blog from thousands of blogs on the web ranked by traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness?