What Does Melatonin Do?
9. Melatonin and Eye Health
Melatonin is also said to have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are responsible for removing free radicals from the body. Free radicals are found in the environment and can cause oxidative damage on a cellular level in the human body. Antioxidants target these free radicals in order to slow or stop the oxidative process. According to research, the antioxidant benefits of melatonin primarily impact the eyes. As the body ages, conditions like macular degeneration become commonplace. Though not an outright cure, studies suggest that melatonin supplements might be able to slow the degenerative process.
In studies conducted with elderly patients experiencing macular degeneration, melatonin supplements yielded interesting results. The research points out that those who took roughly 3 mg of melatonin per day were able to slow the process of degeneration and protect the retina. Though additional research is required to understand melatonin’s impact on eye health in younger individuals, supplementation can prove valuable to those interesting in maintaining eye integrity as they grow older.
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