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FAA Medical
Certification | Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone secreted
by the pineal gland and may be used to regulate
sleep. Some research shows it may prevent Alzheimer's Disease. Melatonin is approved by the FAA
on a case by case basis.
Pilots without
"sleep disorders" using melatonin
must take it daily and the dosage
should be 3-5 mg.
Melatonin Shows Promise
in Alzheimer's Disease
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, PRNewswire --
Melatonin, a widely used naturally occurring hormone used to treat insomnia and
jet lag, reverses the formation of a protein complex that is a hallmark of
Alzheimer's disease, report researchers in the December 11, 2001 issue of the
journal, "Biochemistry," published by the American Chemical Society.
The findings of the study conducted by Dr. Miguel Pappolla of the USA Medical
Center and the University of South Alabama, and associates from New York
University, Case Western Reserve University and the Indiana University School of
Medicine, are based upon animal and human cell culture studies. "Our
results clearly demonstrate the ability of melatonin to inhibit the process of
forming the 'signature' amyloid protein bundles seen in Alzheimer's disease
(AD)," said Pappolla. In AD, toxic fibrillar aggregates of a protein called
amyloid beta protein are the pathologic landmark of the disease. "What is
equally intriguing is that persons with AD also show remarkably lower
concentrations of melatonin in their brains," he added.
In the current study melatonin was added to solutions containing the building
blocks of the abnormal brain amyloid fibrils along with an additional protein
associated with AD, human apoE. Melatonin inhibited the formation of amyloid
beta, which is toxic to nerve cells, in the experiments performed. Because
melatonin has antioxidant actions its inhibitory effects were compared to other
antioxidants like vitamins C and E, and a synthetic antioxidant. All were
without effect. Additionally, a naturally occurring brain chemical very similar
to melatonin was evaluated and it, too, lacked inhibitory activity.
"This activity attributed to the 'indole' structure of melatonin appears to
be specific," added Dr. Pappolla. "We also observed melatonin
completely preventing neurotoxicity to human nerve cells exposed to amyloid
Beta."
"These exciting findings, however, mandate much more research before we can
convincingly state melatonin can halt or prevent Alzheimer's disease," he
concluded.
"The use of dietary supplements to promote brain function is an exciting
aspect of the growing field of nutritional neuroscience," noted Dr. Jeffrey
Blumberg, Professor of Nutrition at Tufts University and Scientific Advisory
Board member to the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance(TM), "and these
findings from basic research suggest practical applications may not be too far
away."
The study was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging.
This information is provided by the Dietary Supplement Information Bureau (TM)
in partnership with IMAGINutrition, Inc. IMAGINutrition is a nutrition
technology innovation and research think tank based in Laguna Niguel, CA.
IMAGINutrition collaborates with academic research centers on clinical trials
using dietary supplements and regularly collects, analyzes, and disseminates the
latest research on dietary supplements through its proprietary information
database system, BioActiva(TM).
The Dietary Supplement Information Bureau(TM) is a project of the Dietary
Supplement Education Alliance(TM), an industry coalition created to promote the
health benefits and responsible use of vitamins, minerals, herbs and specialty
supplements. A scientific advisory board oversees the development and
dissemination of the information.
The DSEA(TM) steering committee includes the following organizations: American
Herbal Products Association, Corporate Alliance for Integrative Medicine,
National Nutritional Foods Association, New Hope Natural Media/Penton Media,
Inc., and Virgo Publishing Inc. Additionally, over 100 organizations and
industry leaders are supporting the DSEA(TM) effort including Fruitful Yield,
Intramedicine, Inc., Natrol, Inc., Weider Nutrition International and United
Natural Foods, Inc.
2001/12/31 Richters
HerbLetter
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your physicians and the FAA to assure compliance with FAA medical protocols and to resolve
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Contact us at 800-699-4457 or via E-Mail to confidentially discuss the
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