If you’ve heard of the hormone melatonin or have ever taken the synthetic version in supplement form, then you know it is widely considered useful for inducing sleep and, especially, for reducing the insomnia associated with jet lag.
But it may even prove useful in other ways for a wide range of conditions, from Alzheimer’s disease, to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, to glaucoma, according to MedlinePlus, a Web site produced by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
So it shouldn’t be too shocking that continuing reports from the American Academy of Periodontology suggest melatonin may be effective against periodontal disease, an inflammation of the gums that can destroy tissues and bone in the jaw that support the teeth.
The latest study, published in the June issue of the Journal of Periodontology, found that melatonin may promote bone formation and stimulate the body’s immune response, which are two factors that can affect a person’s periodontal health.
Since bone loss and tooth loss can result from this condition, the authors were intrigued by the possibilities for melatonin.
However, they did post one warning flag: “The review did not directly look at melatonin as a treatment option for periodontal diseases, [but] this is an area that might be worth investigating in the future.”
The authors studied existing literature on the topic but apparently didn’t do any original research.
Recent studies have shown salivary melatonin levels (the amount present in a person’s saliva) may actually vary according to the degree of periodontal disease, indicating that melatonin may act to protect the body from periodontal bacteria and inflammation, the academy said in a statement.
However, that study, released last year, was based on a very small patient sample of 37 patients with varying degrees of periodontal disease.
But the findings, as they continue to pile up, are intriguing, because periodontal inflammation not only is linked to tooth and bone loss in the jaw but to cardiovascular disease.
As for the evidence for melatonin as a useful supplement for the more than 20 diseases and disorders outlined by Medline Plus, those findings are still preliminary.
