Melatonin may decrease heartburn

2014-05-06 10:08:53

Melatonin is a natural hormone found in humans. Circulating levels of melatonin vary in the daily cycle and it helps to maintain several biological functions. For this reason, it is most commonly used as a supplement to help promote good sleep. Recently, it’s been discovered that melatonin can protect against heartburn, also known as gastro-esophageal reflux disease (or GERD). GERD develops when the contents of the stomach work their way upward and cause irritation. In normal digestion, the lower esophageal sphincter opens to allow food to pass into the stomach, but should close after that. If it becomes weaker or opens when it shouldn’t, GERD can develop and acid can flow up into the esophagus. Many drugs are used to treat heartburn and they typically decrease the amount of acid produced by the stomach, but they can cause side effects. Melatonin has been found to be protective to the gastro-intestinal system. In this recent study, melatonin was tested with or without an acid-decreasing drug (1). The results showed that melatonin was useful in both circumstances. It was able to relieve stomach pain and heartburn. In addition to melatonin, there are many dietary triggers than can also aggravate heartburn. These include things like chocolate, mint, fatty foods, coffee, and alcohol. It’s usually recommended that those who have heartburn avoid these foods.