Brain chemical helps asthmatics sleep better

Melatonin, a natural substance that gets produced in the brain, is useful as a sleep remedy for people who suffer from mild or moderate asthma, study suggests.

It is a real bother to have trouble falling asleep. It only gets worse if you also suffer from asthma. But according to a new scientific study published in the November 2004-issue of American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, it helps to supplement with a natural substance called melatonin. In a study of 22 women with mild to moderate asthma, those who were given three milligrams of melatonin two hours before their bedtime experienced significant improvements in quality of sleep compared with those who got inactive placebo. The patients in the melatonin group fell asleep faster and slept longer, the scientists write, adding that the melatonin supplement did not have any effect on the asthma symptoms.
Based on these findings, the team of Brazilian researchers lead by Dr. Pedro F.C. de Bruin from Universidade Federal do Ceara in Fortaleza, conclude that melatonin is a promising agent for improving sleep quality in these patients. Still they warrant further studies of the substance before safely recommending it to asthma patients.

Natural sleep aid

Melatonin gets produced in the pineal gland of the human brain at night in response to nightfall. This is the brain’s way of telling the body that it is time to slow down and get some rest. In normal healthy individuals, the brain’s melatonin release is sufficient to induce fatigue. However, if this is not the case, people may experience sleeping problems.
As opposed to synthetic sleeping medicine such as benzodiazepines that are addictive, supplementation with melatonin, which causes a completely natural, long-lasting sleep, can be discontinued at any time. Also, melatonin is a powerful antioxidant that protects the cells against potentially harmful free radicals. Melatonin is available from pharmacies.

Source: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, November 2004