X-Message-Number: 4869
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 10:20:46 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: more on deprenyl & melatonin

   Unlike melatonin there does exist some evidence to indicate that
time-release deprenyl might be more beneficial than immediate release
formulations. Deprenyl neuroprotection is enhanced when rodents that are
dosed every 12 hours as opposed to every 48 hours. (J Neurosci Res Vol.40
564-570 1995) Does anyone know if a time-release deprenyl formulation is
commerically available? 
    The following article about melatonin is reprinted with permission
from the Winter 1994 issue of Canadian Cryonics News. 

                           MELATONIN
                       By Doug Skrecky
    Recently a new supplement with purported life extension benefits has
been made available to the public. This supplement is a hormone called
melatonin, which is normally secreted by the pineal gland during sleep.
The pineal gland slowly calcifies during adulthood and melatonin levels
progressively decline starting around 30 years of age in men and somewhat
latter for women. Could maintaining youthful levels of melatonin with
supplements prolong youth?  Would maintaining higher levels be more
beneficial?. Is there are real evidence that melatonin can extend lifespan
is any animal species? 
    Here are the facts: Pineal grafts implanted in 16 month old C57BL/6
mice extend maximum survival from 24 months in controls to 31 months for
the implanted mice. Pineal grafts in 22 month old BALB/cj mice extend
maximum survival from  months to 31 months. Pineal grafts in 19 month
old hybrid mice extend survival from 25 to 33 months. Melatonin
supplements given to autoimmune disease prone NZB mice starting at 6
months of age had no effect on mortality until 16 months of age, when
mortality rates abrupted diverged.  Maximum survival of control NZB mice
was 19 months, for mice given melatonin at night it was 23 months, while
curiously mice given melatonin during the day time when the pineal gland
is known to be inactive lived only to 20 months.  Night melatonin given to
18 month old C3H/He mice extended their survival, but when given to 12
month old C3H/He mice it proved to be toxic and survival was reduced
slightly from 30 months to 28 months. Night melatonin given to 19 month
old C57BL/6 mice increased their survival from 27 to 33 months. *1
    If the results with mice can be extended to humans modest (3
milligram/day) melatonin supplements should be taken only in the evening
and should be considered mostly by those over 55 years of age. The goal
should be to maintain youthful levels of melatonin at night, but not to
exceed this.  Shiftwork can suppress melatonin secretion so young adults
doing shiftwork might benefit from the occasional supplement. *2 Melatonin
taken before sleep is known to help ameliorate jetlag. *3 

*1 "The Pineal
Control of Aging: The Effects of Melatonin and Pineal Grafting on the
Survival of Older Mice" 291-313 Vol.621 1991 Annal of the New York Academy
of Sciences 
*2 The author has found melatonin to be quite helpful in
   reducing the fatigue associated with shiftwork.  
*3 "A Double-Blind Trial
of Melatonin as a Treatment for Jet Lag in International Cabin Crew"
5-530 Vol.33 1993 Biological Psychiatry

    With smaller 1 mg capsules of melatonin now being available I feel it
is appropriate to reduce the lower age limit for melatonin supplementation
to 30 years, particularly for shift workers. The negative result with 12
month C3H/He mice I now regard as being somewhat suspect, particularly
since it was beneficial to 18 month old C3H/He mice. Melatonin was given
in the drinking water and if this was contaminated with copper or iron
ions melatonin will degrade and the experiment would be compromised.
Melatonin given to 6 month old autoimmune NZB mice had no deleterious side
effects, nor is there any evidence to suggest the same for young humans. 
    Subscription rates for Canadian Cryonics News can be obtained from Ben
Best at  Here's a plug: CCN is the best written, least
expensive best value newsletter in Canada on cryonics. (it's also the only
one too!)


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