Melatonin and Growth Hormone

**tooncesthecat** · March 12th, 2008, 10:27 PM

You may have heard of the sleep benefits some get from taking melatonin. Well, it might just make you grow too. I ran across an article that demonstrated that taking 5mg of melatonin daily increased growth hormone in younger subjects while also lowering somatostatin (which is basically anti-growth hormone). I'm wondering if it would do the same on us old guys!?

The full article is here:

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition | Full text | Effects of a single dose of N-Acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine (Melatonin) and resistance exercise on the growth hormone/IGF-1 axis in young males and females

**justaguy87337** · March 12th, 2008, 10:37 PM

so without reading the article you're saying its good for you? I haven't slept for sh%t the last couple of weeks.

**tooncesthecat** · March 12th, 2008, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justaguy87337

so without reading the article you're saying its good for you? I haven't slept for sh%t the last couple of weeks.

The article is about melatonin raising GH levels in subjects, but it has been reported to be a great sleep aid for years.

**justaguy87337** · March 12th, 2008, 10:44 PM

I was worried about it. with the sups i'm on when ever i try a sleep aid i get that restless leg thing and I sleep even worse.....I don't know why, so tonite I decided to have a couple beers to see it that helps.

**wildstang** · March 12th, 2008, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tooncesthecat

You may have heard of the sleep benefits some get from taking melatonin. Well, it might just make you grow too. I ran across an article that demonstrated that taking 5mg of melatonin daily increased growth hormone in younger subjects while also lowering somatostatin (which is basically anti-growth hormone). I'm wondering if it would do the same on us old guys!?

The full article is here:

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition | Full text | Effects of a single dose of N-Acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine (Melatonin) and resistance exercise on the growth hormone/IGF-1 axis in young males and females

from reading the article one would think it would benefit us older guys also. although for example DHEA isnt quit as effect 4 someone young (teens) as it is 4 someone who's above 35. but the only reason that is because the youngster has high test levels and the older guy has lower test levels so thats why that particular supp works so well 4 us older guys. this definitely can use some more research but i bet the older male would benefit also.

**justaguy87337** · March 12th, 2008, 10:54 PM

ok guys I'll buy some tomorrow and let you know how it goes.

inthecircle · March 13th, 2008, 07:41 AM

Is this something you buy as a 'stand alone' supp. or is it normally in something else?

**tooncesthecat** · March 13th, 2008, 05:05 PM

You can buy it as a "stand alone" supp. It is readily available at drugstores or healthfood stores.

**tidalwave** · March 13th, 2008, 05:15 PM

It's usually super inexpensive, too. I think I paid ~$5 for 90 tabs. It seemed to be useful in making jet lag a non-issue. In light of this report, I might have to try using it more regularly.

I though that ZMA had a similar impact on test, since it reportedly gives you a deeper sleep.

Maybe GH levels are more dependent upon sleep cycles rather than depth of sleep, whereas test levels are healthiest given a prolonged deep level of sleep. This might make sense in light of the melatonin/GH link, since (I think) melatonin is primarily used to regulate sleep cycles rather than depth.

**Bisons** · March 13th, 2008, 05:31 PM

I take melatonin as part of my pre bed stack that I've been taking whilst cutting.

Melatonin 3mg,
ZMA, 450mg
GABA, 5000mg
5-HTP, 50mg
Glutamine, 10g
OKG, 5g
HMB, 1g

Melatonin is also one of the most potent antioxidants

**JarheadRI** · March 13th, 2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bisons

I take melatonin as part of my pre bed stack that I've been taking whilst cutting.

Melatonin 3mg,
ZMA, 450mg
GABA, 5000mg
5-HTP, 50mg
Glutamine, 10g
OKG, 5g
HMB, 1g

Melatonin is also one of the most potent antioxidants

Which brand of melatonin do you use Bisons?

**Bisons** · March 13th, 2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JarheadRI

Which brand of melatonin do you use Bisons?

I think it's Optimum Nutrition

huddie25 · March 14th, 2008, 07:48 AM

I have been using melatonin as a sleeping aid for a while now. As far as falling asleep it didn't help for crap, but I do sleep more sound throughout the night.

As far as helping a person grow....haven't heard about that. Maybe I should pop more of those pills than I have been!

**JarheadRI** · March 14th, 2008, 10:49 AM

WEll I took some last night and it didn't help me sleep worth a crap! Think it might have had the opposite effect. However I did wake up this morning feeling a lot 'loser' in my muscles and joints... Now I don't know if that is from the melatonin or the fact that it stayed above freezing in the area and has been a little warmer. I will continue you with the melatonin as I know one shot does not a supplement make. I will keep you posted.

**justaguy87337** · March 14th, 2008, 10:52 AM

ok went to the walmart and bought some only cost $3.00 300mg and I took two, slept like a baby for the first time in weeks. that was soooo needed. I'll keep you posted on weither I notice any other changes.

**justaguy87337** · March 14th, 2008, 10:55 AM

how much did you take jarhead? Like stated before I don't think it helps you fall asleep but deffinately helps you get a good deep sleep.

**JarheadRI** · March 14th, 2008, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justaguy87337

how much did you take jarhead? Like stated before I don't think it helps you fall asleep but deffinately helps you get a good deep sleep.

Well I feel asleep fine I just woke up aroun 3:30 or so and didn't really fall back to sleep until around 6:30 and then alarm went off at 7:15. I took one 3mg pill. Been reading a lot that said you shouldn't take more than that? Who knows!

**justaguy87337** · March 14th, 2008, 12:17 PM

who know is right, maybe next time u wake up at 330 you should nudge the wife, sometime alittle late nite pt is just what the doctor ordered

**JarheadRI** · March 14th, 2008, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justaguy87337

who know is right, maybe next time u wake up at 330 you should nudge the wife, sometime alittle late nite pt is just what the doctor ordered

OH man I would love that but if interupted her sleep for ANY reason she would kill me. If it was for SEX oh man! Death would be too good for me!

**torofuerte** · March 14th, 2008, 03:11 PM

Ok, just so that some people don't get confused.

You can't expect melatonin to have an immediate effect on your sleep patterns on the very same night you started taking it. Just like all other supplements, you need to take it consistently for days (maybe weeks) before the health benefits (if any) become apparent.

I've used melatonin in the past. Doesn't help to fall sleep, but it helps to sleep deeper and better. Just my 2 cents.