Key Quotes selected by Ye Editor
"The vast majority, 95%, of the melatonin your body produces is made inside your mitochondria in response to near-infrared radiation from the sun.
Only 5% of melatonin is produced in your pineal gland at night.
... It is important to note that melatonin supplements, contrary to what you might expect, do not wind up in your mitochondria where they are needed most to quench the damage from oxidative stress produced in the electron transport chain.
Melatonin, of course, is a master hormone, a potent antioxidant and antioxidant recycler, and a master regulator of inflammation and cell death.
... Melatonin has also been shown to be an important part of Covid treatment, reducing incidence of thrombosis and sepsis and lowering mortality.
As noted by Seheult, evidence suggests sun exposure may help combat any number of respiratory infections, including Covid, and the production of melatonin in your mitochondria appears to be a key part of why that works.
Seheult reviews a number of evidences showing that Covid rates across the world correlate to the solar index or the amount of sun striking the area.
Positive case rates also correlate with vitamin D levels in the blood.
Higher blood levels correlate with lower incidence of Covid and higher rates of survival for inpatients.
In short, vitamin D is more than likely a MARKER or surrogate for sun exposure.
But all the benefits are likely due to other factors than vitamin D itself.
As noted by Seheult, some studies looking at the effect of giving vitamin D to patients treated for severe Covid found no benefit, even at very high doses.
What’s more, research looking at UVA levels and Covid mortality rates found areas of the U.S., the U.K. and Italy with higher UVA also had lower Covid mortality rates. ...
Vitamin D does not rise in response to UVA (only UVB), so, something in the sunlight, other than vitamin D, must have a beneficial impact.
... Understanding Solar Energy
As you can see from the illustration above, 39% of the solar spectrum is what we see as visible light.
The majority of the solar spectrum, 54%, is infrared, which is not visible but rather felt as heat.
Ultraviolet light accounts for only 7% of the solar spectrum, and vitamin D is specifically produced in response to UVB radiation, which is only a small part of the ultraviolet spectrum.
Melatonin is produced inside your mitochondria in response to near-infrared radiation, which is part of the infrared spectrum.
Because near-infrared has a much longer wavelength than ultraviolet, it can penetrate much deeper into your body, reaching cells in your subcutaneous tissue and not just on your skin.
Near-infrared is not seen but rather felt as warmth.
Its penetrative power (heat) also means it can penetrate lightweight clothing.
Melatonin Combats Oxidative Stress, Day and Night
... Melatonin is perhaps best known as a sleep regulating hormone.
At night, the level produced by your pineal gland rises, which help make you sleepy and ready for bed.
As the sun rises and morning dawns, the level automatically recedes, allowing you to wake up.
But that’s not all melatonin does.
As melatonin is released at night, it travels through your circulatory system and is taken up by cells.
... Since the beginning of human history, people have lived and worked outdoors during the light of day, absorbing light energy from the sky.
An average of 10 hours outdoors each day, 70 hours weekly, was common.
Today, we spend an average of fewer than 30 minutes a day or a mere three hours per week in daylight, according to a study by Dr. Daniel Kripke, professor of psychiatry at UC San Diego.
... The problem you encounter with Covid is that when the virus attaches to the cell, it knocks out the ACE2 enzyme (because the spike protein is now bound to it).
... The end result of this elevated oxidative stress is blood clots, which in turn leads to hypoxemia.
Melatonin can break this destructive cycle ...
(but) oral (melatonin) supplementation is not a substitute for going outside during the day.
... The good news is you don’t have to be close to naked to benefit, as you do when optimising your vitamin D production.
The near-infrared radiation will penetrate lightweight clothing.
So, you can cover yourself to prevent sunburn if you’re outside for a longer period of time, while still getting the near-infrared that you need.
... you will absorb more IR on your bare skin.
The other side of the equation is avoiding bright light late at night.
To optimise melatonin release in your pineal gland at night, avoid blue light-emitting gadgets at least a couple of hours before bed and keep the lighting in your room dim.
Blue-blocking glasses can also be used.
Once in bed, makes sure your room is pitch black, as even a small amount of light can interfere with melatonin production.
Together, sun exposure during the day and keeping it dark at night, will ensure your mitochondria are being bathed — day and night — in melatonin.
