Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
Health & Fitness

Melatonine intake may help combat obesity, diabetes

Darpan News Desk IANS, 04 Oct, 2014 09:21 AM
    Chronic consumption of melatonine, a hormone found in animals, plants, and microbes, helps combat obesity and type-two diabetes, says a study.
     
    "Melatonine is abundant in vegetables, spices, herbs, tea, coffee, fruit, seeds and nuts. This is one of the main reasons why these foods are healthy," said lead researcher Ahmad Agil, a professor at University of Granada in Spain.
     
    The study involved several experiments conducted on Zucker obese rats.
     
    In the case of obesity, mitochondria (our cells' power stations) do not work properly (homeostatic imbalance) and their programmed destruction is accelerated.
     
    Chronic administration of melatonine in young obese rats with diabetes mellitus type-two, similar to its human equivalent, improves mitochondrial dysfunction (i.e. mitochondrial homeostatic functions) in a very efficient way, the findings showed.
     
    Since it improves the consumption of oxygen, melatonine diminishes the levels of free-radicals stress and prevents the destruction of the mitochondrial membrane.
     
    The researchers also pointed out that besides chronic consumption of melatonine, people should sleep in the dark to keep obesity and diabetes at bay.
     
    Melatonine "is a natural substance present in plants, animals and humans; it works as a hormonal signal released during the night to establish circadian rhythms," Agil noted.
     
    Excessive exposure to artificial lightning reduce endogenous melatonine levels, the researchers said.
     
    "It is important to try to sleep in absolute darkness, to avoid interference in the generation of melatonine," Agil said.
     
    The study appeared online in the Journal of Pineal Research.

    MORE Health & Fitness ARTICLES

    Body, health myths exposed

    Body, health myths exposed
    From drinking eight glasses of water everyday to eating food before going to bed helps in storing fat are some of the health guidelines that doctors....

    Body, health myths exposed

    Healthy lifestyle can fight stress-related ageing

    Healthy lifestyle can fight stress-related ageing
    Typical experiences of life stressors like death, care-giving and job loss may accelerate cellular ageing, but these negative effects may be reduced by...

    Healthy lifestyle can fight stress-related ageing

    Be aware of calories from soft drinks during meals

    Be aware of calories from soft drinks during meals
    Did you ever count calories from the soft drink you usually order along with the dinner? Now is the time to factor those in....

    Be aware of calories from soft drinks during meals

    British drink too much, ignorant: Survey

    British drink too much, ignorant: Survey
    Britons are largely viewed as heavy drinkers and ignorant of other cultures, according to a survey by the British Council...

    British drink too much, ignorant: Survey

    Response to food images linked to glucose levels

    Response to food images linked to glucose levels
    Does the mere sight of food ignite desire to gorge upon high-calorie meals? This may well be due to low blood sugar levels in your body...

    Response to food images linked to glucose levels

    Daily running can lower death risk

    Daily running can lower death risk
    A new US study has suggested that running everyday, even for a few minutes, can significantly reduce a person's risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases....

    Daily running can lower death risk