ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 18, 1996 TAG: 9602160100
SECTION: BOOK PAGE: G-4 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: BOOK REVIEW
SOURCE: REVIEWED BY RANES CHAKRAVORTY
MELATONIN: Your Body's Natural Wonder Drug. By Russel J. Reiter and Jo Robinson. Bantam. Price not listed.
Melatonin is a rather unique biological product. It is a hormone produced in an identical form in every organism studied, from algae to human beings. It is produced in infinitesimal quantities and released from the pineal gland (a small glandular organ in the center of the brain) in a circadian rhythm. Melatonin production is low during the day but goes up at night. Its two important physiological functions seem to be lightening the skin and producing deep sleep.
In the 40-plus years since the identification and isolation of melatonin, a considerable body of information has been gathered on its properties. The authors summarize most of this knowledge in this book. The first section discusses the physiological properties of melatonin. The second section addresses the means of attaining healthy levels of it. Chapters 16 and 17 deal with creating a melatonin-friendly lifestyle and the use of melatonin, which is available at natural food stores. The last section discusses the future of melatonin research. The need for further controlled studies to evaluate the efficacy of melatonin is constantly stressed.
Melatonin is not a drug. It is a natural product, a hormone. It is inexpensive and easily synthesized. Even in large doses it is not toxic. With all the evidence suggesting its many possible therapeutic benefits, one would expect pharmaceutical companies to define the medical uses quickly. This has not happened. The authors discuss the reasons in the last chapter. Their explanation is a sad reflection on the influence of profit-making in the development of potentially beneficial therapeutic agents.
The first author, Dr. Russel J. Reiter Ph.D., of the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, is one of the leading researchers on melatonin. His coauthor, Jo Robinson, is a journalist. They have collaborated to clearly and succinctly explain many of the properties and enigmas of melatonin, and they do so without the use of medical jargon.
This is a well-written book on an interesting subject. I would strongly recommend it to all readers interested in health matters.
Ranes Chakravorty is asurgeon at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem.
LENGTH: Short : 49 linesby CNB