Although further studies are needed to certify the benefits of melatonin, the study concludes that the supplement has a positive effect on cholesterol in high doses and long durations.

Melatonin Supplements Could Reduce Cholesterol In The Long Run Researchers at the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences in Iran recently conducted a systematic review to analyse how melatonin supplements affect blood lipid (cholesterol) levels. Although they found that current evidence from randomised controlled trials were inconsistent, the researchers were eventually able to conclude that there is a “significant association between melatonin supplementation and a reduction in triglycerides and total cholesterol levels”.

The experimental study concluded that melatonin’s lipid-reducing mechanisms helped to suppress visceral fat, which subsequently enhanced insulin sensitivity, increased lipoprotein lipase activity, decreased lipolysis in adipose tissue, prevent cholesterol absorption and synthesis, improve LDL receptor activity and inhibit metabotropic receptors.

The researchers also noted that the subjects in the trials analysed had a noticeable reduction in very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol due to the absorption of cholesterol being suppressed in the intestine by the melatonin. Large amounts of melatonin have also been found to be a strong antioxidant.

Although further studies are needed to ensure the benefits of melatonin, the study concluded that the positive effect of melatonin is more evident in higher doses and durations.

Read more about the study here.

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