Maizinol | The PrimAGE

Melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone produced by the brain, is often used to treat insomnia and other sleep disorders. Unfortunately, melatonin can be difficult to obtain in some countries, such as Malaysia. There are several online retailers that sell melatonin, but buyers should be aware that some products may not be effective and may have side effects.

Can Melatonin be bought in Malaysia? Find out if you can buy melatonin in Malaysia.

What is melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone that is produced by the pineal gland, which is located in the brain.

The primary role of melatonin is to regulate the body's circadian rhythm, which is the natural cycle of day and night that controls many aspects of our daily lives.

Melatonin levels naturally rise at night when it is dark and fall during the day when it is light. In some countries, melatonin is available over the counter in both pill and liquid form to help regulate sleep patterns or to treat conditions such as jet lag or insomnia.

What are the benefits of having a healthy melatonin level?

There are many benefits to having a healthy melatonin level. One of the most important benefits is that it can help you get a good night's sleep. Melatonin helps control your body's natural clock or circadian rhythm. It plays a role in the timing of your sleep-wake cycle. When your melatonin levels are low, you may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

Another benefit of having a healthy melatonin level is that it can help protect your brain from damage. Studies have shown that people with low melatonin levels are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. Melatonin may also help protect against stroke and other types of brain damage.

Additionally, research suggests that melatonin may play a role in preventing cancer, heart disease, and strengthening immunity.

Is Melatonin legal in Malaysia?

Although melatonin is available over-the-counter in some countries or even can be bought through online channels, it is a prescription drug in Malaysia. Most pharmacies in Malaysia do not keep melatonin, since any health supplement products sold need to be registered under the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), Ministry of Health Malaysia. The use of melatonin for insomnia is not approved by the Malaysian Ministry of Health as it is considered a hormone and not a supplement.

Side effects of melatonin

Most people know melatonin as a natural sleep aid. What many don't know is that it can also cause side effects, some of which are common.

These side effects include but are not limited to: headache, dizziness, nausea, and irritability. In most cases, these side effects are mild and go away within a few days. However, if they persist or become bothersome, it's best to speak with a doctor.

Natural Melatonin alternative in Malaysia

corn leaf extract Maizinol(TM) can be natural alternative to melatonin.

There is some evidence that corn leaf extract can be a natural alternative to melatonin supplements. Maizinol is a patented ingredient derived from Zea mays corn leaf extract and is a natural alternative to melatonin.

This patented corn leaf extract works through the melatonin pathway. It increases the body's own production of melatonin. Also, the compound structure has similarities to melatonin, so it’s also binding to melatonin receptors. The innovator has done a clinical study showing the ingredient significantly increased deep-sleep time by 30 minutes when taken before bed. Other than that, it also showed a 30% reduction in cortisol levels compared to a placebo with a saliva test the next morning. [source]

In short, Maizinol corn leaf extract helps to improve sleep quality and duration, and it also has anti-anxiety effects. It does not cause any next-day drowsiness like synthetic melatonin in consumers. This product is available in Malaysia's pharmacy stores under the brand name "The PrimAGE ReszGuard".

Conclusion

Melatonin is a prescription item in Malaysia, and it is not readily available in most pharmacy stores due to legality and registration issue. Although some can get it through online channels, it is important to consult with a doctor before taking melatonin, as it may not be appropriate for everyone.

Finally, synthetic melatonin is a hormone molecule by itself, it should take into consideration its safeness if intended to take it for extended periods of time, and it is important to discontinue use if any adverse effects are experienced. Natural corn leaf extract, which aids the body in regulating its own melatonin levels, maybe the best alternative.

The hormone of darkness - Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain that helps you fall asleep by triggering feelings of drowsiness. Melatonin levels rise in reaction to darkness, coordinating with the circadian rhythm (a 24-hour cycle that governs physical activities) to prepare your body for the first stage of sleep, awake. Sleep quality can be harmed by low melatonin synthesis, making it difficult to fall asleep. Night shift workers, those with sleep disorders, and frequent travellers may have sleep disruptions and poor sleep quality, which can be connected to melatonin deficiency.

What regulates melatonin production?

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the brain's hypothalamus regulates melatonin release by coordinating the timing of biological activities. The SCN, which is located above the optic nerves that connect your brain to your eyes, determines however much melatonin it secretes based on the amount of light entering your eyes. When it gets darker outside, your body produces more melatonin, which makes you sleepy. If your circadian clock is out of whack, your body may produce irregular melatonin throughout the day, causing sleep-wake cycles to be disrupted or sleep disorders to develop.

The consequences of melatonin deficiency in the human body

Poor sleep quality

When it comes to enhancing your performance and concentration, sleep is one of the most significant components. Melatonin, the sleep hormone, plays an important role in your sleep. Restlessness, a poor stress reaction, sleeplessness, and waking up too early in the morning can all be indicators of a deficit.

Stress & anxiety

Cortisol (a stress hormone) levels are at their lowest around midnight, according to research. They will begin to rise two to three hours after you go to bed and will continue to rise throughout the night as you wake up. This demonstrates an inverse relationship between melatonin production and release and cortisol:

The levels of cortisol in the body decrease as the levels of melatonin in the body rise.
As the body's melatonin levels fall, the body's cortisol levels rise.

Thus, a person with a low melatonin level will tend to have a higher stress response & have a risk of an anxiety incidence.

Besides that, Melatonin also aids in the physiological stress response. During the stress response, the body's temperature, blood pressure, and hormone levels all rise. Melatonin is important in the regulation of these physiological factors, which assists the body in relieving stress.

Weaker Immune

Melatonin sends signals to the immune system, and the immune system "talks" back, according to researchers. This "cross-talk" helps to fine-tune and coordinate healthy immunity. It strengthens innate defences against a wide range of pathogens, including viruses and cancer cells.

Melatonin enhances the body's immunity in several ways:

Improving the responses of antibodies that "tag" specific viruses, bacteria, and other invaders to be attacked by various immune system components,
Reducing chronic inflammation, which is the root cause of nearly all age-related chronic diseases
Increasing T cell activity, which aids in the more efficient destruction of pathogens.

Accelerated ageing process

Melatonin aids in the slowing of the ageing process in tissues such as the brain. It protects all tissues in the body because of its' powerful antioxidant property.

Is synthetic melatonin supplement your preferred option?

Melatonin supplements are not authorised for sale over the counter in countries like the UK, Ireland and also in Malaysia. Melatonin is a prescription-only medicine in these countries due to the fact that melatonin is a type of hormone. Even though in some other countries it is available to buy in health food shops or online.

When you supplement a hormone (melatonin), you are interfering with your own body's biosynthesis process, which many people cannot tolerate, resulting in a lot of dreams and dizziness in the morning. The common side effects of synthetic melatonin include:

feeling sleepy or tired in the daytime
headache
stomach ache or feeling sick (nausea)
feeling dizzy
feeling irritable or restless
dry mouth
dry or itchy skin
pains in your arms or legs
strange dreams or night sweats

Maize-derived ingredient, a safer alternative to synthetic melatonin

Maizinol, a natural ingredient derived from corn leaves (Zea mays), acts via the melatonin pathway. Its active compound is structurally similar to melatonin, binds with the receptors and boosts the body's own melatonin biosynthesis, without having adverse effects like synthetic melatonin.

Maizinol was found to assist with sleep & stress-related symptoms. A clinical study showed the ingredient significantly increased deep-sleep time by 30 minutes when taken before bed. It has also shown a significant reduction (~30%) in cortisol levels in the early morning.

Maizinol is marketed under the brand The PrimAGE ReszGuard in Malaysia.

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Can Melatonin Be Bought In Malaysia?