Hormonal
Melatonin acts as a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant by accumulating in high concentrations within mitochondria via oligopeptide transporters (PEPT1/2), where it directly scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS) and stimulates antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx) to mitigate oxidative stress and age-related decline.
Melatonin is not just a sleep hormone; it is a potent antioxidant that concentrates inside your cells' energy producers (mitochondria). This positioning allows it to neutralize damaging free radicals more effectively than many other antioxidants, potentially slowing age-related cellular decline. While the paper focuses on mechanisms, this suggests that maintaining healthy melatonin rhythms or supplementation could support long-term cellular health.
Recent evidence indicates that mitochondrial membranes possess transporters that aid in the rapid uptake of melatonin by these organelles against a gradient... melatonin is in especially high concentrations in mitochondria... optimally positioned to scavenge the radicals and reduce the degree of oxidative damage.
Why this rating
The paper is a review citing multiple studies, including specific mechanistic findings on transporters and enzyme regulation, though it lacks a single large-scale clinical trial.
Source
Mitochondria: Central Organelles for Melatonin′s Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Actions
Rüssel J. Reiter et al. · Molecules · 2018
DOI 10.3390/molecules23020509
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