Melatonin May Reduce Blood Pressure!

Melatonin May Reduce Blood Pressure
Researchers in the Netherlands conducted a small study on men with essential hypertension. Essential hypertension is associated with disturbed autonomic cardiovascular regulation (high blood pressure) and circadian pacemaker function (your "internal" or "biological" clock). In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial 16 men were given either a one time 2.5 mg oral dose 1 hour before sleep or they were administered a daily 2.5mg oral dose of melatonin daily for 3 weeks 1 hour before sleep(2). The single dose did not affect blood pressure or sleep. However, the repeated dose reduced systolic blood pressure by 6mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 4mm Hg during sleep. Day-Night amplitudes were reduced as well. Systolic blood pressure was decreased by 15% while diastolic blood pressure was decreased by 25%. The repeated dosing of melatonin also improved sleep, but that was statistically unrelated to the decreased blood pressure. The study suggests that supporting your biological clock with melatonin may reduce both your hypertension and blood pressure. Tweet