tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548560205914833324.post1887270423570364088..comments2023-04-23T00:16:48.148+01:00Comments on Questioning Answers: Melatonin and autism updatedPaul Whiteleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14288851488012254897noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548560205914833324.post-32050398450174671652013-03-23T22:03:12.229+00:002013-03-23T22:03:12.229+00:00Thanks for the comment Audrey.
It's an intere...Thanks for the comment Audrey.<br /><br />It's an interesting thought about learning how to sleep and the various parts of the light spectrum. I note for example that quite a few of the Paleo followers (Stone Age diet if you will) talk about how sleep should done in as dark as you can get it. <br /><br />That being said, my understanding of the research on melatonin with autism in mind, suggests that we might be talking about something rather more 'fundamental' with regards to the biology (and genetics) of the sleep-wake cycle.Paul Whiteleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14288851488012254897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548560205914833324.post-52034656043873983052013-03-23T21:26:28.553+00:002013-03-23T21:26:28.553+00:00Hi, I wonder if people with autism (and anyone els...Hi, I wonder if people with autism (and anyone else, for that matter) are coached HOW to help their body produce melatonin naturally. Research i've seen states for a healthy human, people must sleep in a room so dark they cannot see their hand in front of their face. (in fact, they don't even need to be asleep--just being in a dark room is adequate especially between the hours of 2-4 AM. If fact, to be even clearer-- you can "trick" your body and use a sleeping mask so just your EYEs are in the dark--- and it works the same.) Light is the signal to the brain to shut off essential melatonin production. Dim red or amber disrupts melatonin the least; white light high in the blue spectrum disrupts the most... so even blue lights on a clock radio can disrupt the melatonin production. A streetlight filtering in through typical blinds or curtains is enough to shut off melatonin. Recommendations are to Turn OFF TVs, computers, iPhones, etc (which are all high in the blue spectrum) 1-3 hours before bedtime (or use blue-blocker glasses, or a red-colored filter over your screen-- a red plastic clipboard works in a pinch). Use night lights with dim red or amber bulbs placed low toward the floor in the hall or bathroom. Best way to start the day is enjoying breakfast near a sunny window (when the weather cooperates). So, as much sunlight/ bright light during the day... and dark-dark nights is a perfect recipe for normal, essential melatonin production in healthy humans.Audreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16224191964775736029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548560205914833324.post-34009909063455960932012-06-14T19:31:13.128+01:002012-06-14T19:31:13.128+01:00Thanks for the comment MJ.
Interesting points ind...Thanks for the comment MJ.<br /><br />Interesting points indeed and random thoughts are always welcome:<br /><br />1. Yes. I am due to post an entry in the coming days focusing on the whole tryptophan - serotonin - melatonin cascade. Low levels of tryptophan - the starting material - alongside potential issues with some of the various enzymes (and their cofactors!) involved in the pathway seem to litter the autism research landscape. Not necessarily consistently though.<br /><br />2. Oh yes. http://www.actabp.pl/pdf/4_2003/1129s.pdf<br /><br />3. Interesting hypothesis. I'm going to have a more detailed look at how melatonin is used and whether there is a degree of 'priorty' over its usage (particularly the antioxidant role, if issues with things like glutathione may also be present).<br /><br />4. Pruning is a much under-researched area in autism. I remember a few people talking about over-zealous pruning as potentially being related to disrupted peptide chemistry but your suggestion seems to tie in better with some of the data.<br /><br />5. Why indeed? Perhaps because everyone links melatonin with the sleep-wake cycle and forget that like just about every other compound/drug/metabolite, it might have lots of other important functions? Fair do, there is some good research coming out about melatonin as per the Research Autism entry:<br />http://www.researchautism.net/autism_treatments_therapies_intervention.ikml?ra=22Paul Whiteleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14288851488012254897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548560205914833324.post-9034488953210578062012-06-14T18:16:14.104+01:002012-06-14T18:16:14.104+01:00Just a few random thoughts -
First, there was a s...Just a few random thoughts -<br /><br />First, there was a short case report a few years back about how altering the tryptophan concentration in a child with autism's diet led to improvements in the core symptoms of autism, including insomnia.<br /><br />Beretich, Guy R. 2009. “Reversal of autistic symptoms by removal of low-relative tryptophan foods: case report.” Medical hypotheses 73(5):856-7. <br /><br />Second, isn't melatonin also a pretty decent antioxidant? Which leads to ...<br /><br />Third, is it possible/plausible that enough melatonin is being created but that it is being used up for secondary purposes, such as an antioxidant, so there isn't enough left over to regulate sleep?<br /><br />Which, forth, couldn't a disregulation of sleep be partially responsible for some of the brain overgrowth/lack of pruning that is seen in some people with autism.<br /><br />And, finally (more of a rant), why aren't more people investigating this problem? If you want to talk one behavior of autism that causes more havoc than almost all of the other behaviors combined, it is sleep disruption. If you could help address sleep issues then you would improve the lives of countless children with autism and their parents.M.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12033918835169823548noreply@blogger.com