Research finds sleep hormone may help treat arthritis

Melatonin, the sleep-related hormone, may help treat osteoarthritis, which affects one in five people over the age of 60.

Research shows that the hormone can stop and even reverse the damage the condition causes in the joints – the hope is that melatonin can be loaded into tiny, biodegradable blood cells and injected into the area.

Osteoarthritis is largely caused by wear and tear on the articular cartilage, the smooth, slippery substance that covers the ends of the bones in the joint.

Over time, the cartilage can wear away, eventually rubbing bone against bone, causing pain and stiffness.

The problem is that cartilage is not a blood supply and unlike other tissues it does not repair or renew itself.

Until now, treatment for this has largely consisted of pain relievers, physiotherapy, or surgery, including complete joint replacement. But could melatonin offer people a different solution?

The hormone is mainly secreted by the pineal gland in the brain at night. (Light production ceases, so the day level is one-tenth of the night level.)

It acts on the biological clock and regulates our sleep and wake cycles. We feel sleepy when the level rises at night, and we feel more awake when the morning falls.

But a growing body of research is showing melatonin has other uses, and some studies suggest it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Now, scientists from Soochow University in China have published a study showing that the hormone can prevent the breakdown of existing cartilage and even stimulate new cartilage growth.

In the study, melatonin solution was applied to a small scaffold placed on the knee joints.

They found that this leads to the production of new cartilage.

The study was done in rabbits, but the same benefits are thought to occur in humans.

Other forms of release could also be explored, the researchers say, including the use of small biodegradable spheres to deliver the hormone to the joints.

The hormone is mainly secreted by the pineal gland in the brain at night. (Light stops production, so daytime levels are one-tenth of nighttime levels.) It works on the biological clock and regulates our sleep and wake cycles.

Writing in the journal Aging Research Reviews, the orthopedic surgeons behind the study said their findings confirm “melatonin may be a potential treatment option for osteoarthritis.”

This follows previous laboratory studies on human tissue from arthritis patients, which showed that administration of the hormone increased cartilage cell production by 24%.

The hormone also reduced inflammation (causing joint damage) and caused a 15% increase in chondrocytes, the cells responsible for cartilage formation, according to results published in 2020 in the journal Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity.

Professor Leela Biant, orthopedic surgeon at Manchester University Hospitals, commented on this study: “All cells, including cartilage cells, have a circadian rhythm of rest, recovery and work.

“Melatonin can affect the circadian rhythm of cells and our sleep patterns.

“While this research is preliminary, it could be a promising avenue for further research.”

Ginger and curcumin are the supplements that offer the greatest hope in helping osteoarthritis symptoms, according to a review published in the journal Nutrients.

Researchers looked at more than 60 studies involving more than 1,500 people who took supplements commonly used to treat the condition.

Daily curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has led to “significant” improvements in pain and function. Ginger also reduced pain and inflammation.

But the trials were small, and larger studies are needed to confirm the findings, the researchers said.

Do you know?

According to research in the journal Obesity Research and Clinical Practice, overweight children by the age of six may be on the path to developing type 2 diabetes or heart disease.

Danish researchers followed nearly 1,000 children and found that being overweight was often linked to high blood sugar, “bad” fats and insulin by the time they reached school age. They also generally had lower “good” cholesterol.

Cursing makes you stronger!

According to a study from Keele University, swearing can increase muscle strength.

The researchers tested grip strength in 120 people and found that it increased by 8% when they cursed.

Similarly, volunteers were able to support 10% more of their weight when pushed out of a chair after swearing (“chair push-ups”).

In the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, researchers wrote that bad language temporarily frees the brain from control of socially acceptable behavior, allowing it to focus its resources on maximizing muscle production.

Researchers tested grip strength on 120 people and found that it increased by 8% when they swore.

Molecule linked to depression risk

A blood test that measures levels of a “depression molecule” could make it easier to screen for mental health problems, at least in women.

In studies in mice, scientists at Université Laval in Quebec found that female mice with chronic stress had higher blood levels of E-selectin (a molecule associated with inflammation) than non-stressed mice.

However, there was no such peak in male mice. According to a report in Nature Communications, the researchers said this may partly explain why depression is more common in women than in men.

Can Yoga Reduce Seizures?

scientists Research whether yoga can reduce the frequency of seizures in people with epilepsy.

A study of nearly 1,000 patients is being conducted at the Cleveland Clinic Neurology Institute in the United States to evaluate the effect of yoga on stress, one of the main triggers of seizures. The same study will look at the potential benefits of music therapy (emotions inspired by a favorite tune) and cognitive behavioral therapy, a type of speech therapy.

Researchers hope they may also help prevent memory loss, a common effect of epilepsy.