Are melatonin and melatonin the same?

Melatonin and melatonin are the same substance, but their sources, mechanisms of action, and distribution in the human body are different.

Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that affects the sleep-wake cycle mainly by regulating the biological clock. It also has a variety of biological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory, and is widely distributed in various tissues and organs in the body, such as the cerebral cortex, suprachiasmatic nucleus, and other parts.

Melatonin is an amine compound converted from tryptophan. It is usually secreted more at night to help fall asleep and maintain good sleep quality. In addition, melatonin can also participate in the body's defense system as a free radical scavenger to protect cells from oxidative stress damage.

Since melatonin has an important role in promoting sleep, for patients with insomnia or sleep disorders, supplementing with an appropriate amount of melatonin may help improve sleep quality. However, it should be noted that any drug may have side effects. Excessive use of melatonin may cause symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting, so the dosage needs to be strictly controlled and used under the guidance of a doctor.