Hormone Of Darkness: 4 Facts That You Didn’t Know About Melatonin

To support a better night’s rest when they need it most, millions of people have turned to melatonin supplements.* Because why settle for those midnight hours staring at the ceiling when you can have the support of a supplement, like vitafusion™ Melatonin Max Strength Gummy Vitamins?* But considering the popularity of melatonin, few of us know what it really is or why it works. So let’s dive in deeper and explore the lesser known facts about melatonin!

Deep in the brain of every mammal sits the pinecone-shaped pineal gland — a part of our anatomy which has fascinated scientists and spiritualists alike. In response to darkness, the pineal gland produces and secretes its main hormone product that we now know well as melatonin1. Because of this function, melatonin is also known as the hormone of darkness. Melatonin is a hormone that occurs naturally in the body, but we can also supplement it. vitafusion™ Melatonin Max Strength Gummy Vitamins are specially formulated to provide 10 mg of melatonin per serving to support our beauty sleep.*

We didn’t always know melatonin was supportive of sleep.* Melatonin was discovered first in research1 that revealed bovine pineal tissue extracts could help alter the melanin levels in frogs. (Random much?) Melanin2 is a natural pigment responsible for skin color, and is actually the source of the word melatonin. Throughout this process, researchers were able to witness the sleep-promoting effects of melatonin.* 

To better understand how melatonin supports sleep, we turn to our circadian rhythms.* According to the CDC, circadian rhythms are “internally driven cycles that rise and fall during the 24-hour day.”3 This 24-hour cycle is also referred to as our circadian clock, which resets every 24 hours by the sun’s cycle of light and dark. Darkness signals the pineal gland to produce melatonin, while lightness turns it off, so to speak. This function is why vitafusion™ Melatonin Max Strength Gummy Vitamins can help regulate our sleep-wake cycle.* (And why you’d consider making it a part of your bedtime routine, particularly when your circadian rhythm has been challenged.)*

Because of melatonin’s key role in our circadian clock, many people supplement melatonin to help deal with jet lag.* As you may know, jet lag is the experience that results from galavanting across several multiple zones. As we arrive halfway across the world, our inner clock reads one thing — and the local clock reads another. Using melatonin to help with jet lag might look like taking two vitafusion™ Melatonin Max Strength Gummy Vitamins when it gets dark and is time for bed.* Even though your body might be craving breakfast, we have to set the tone for sleep!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.