This post describes the benefits of using melatonin for MCAS.
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Table of Contents
What is melatonin?
“Melatonin is a hormone that your brain produces in response to darkness. It helps with the timing of your circadian rhythms (24-hour internal clock) and with sleep. Being exposed to light at night can block melatonin production.” – NIH Melatonin can either be produced by the body or synthesized in a lab. Melatonin which is produced by the pineal gland is involved in synchronizing the circadian rhythm, blood pressure regulation, reproduction, and many other functions. As an antioxidant, it plays a role in the protection of mitochondrial DNA. It has been shown to protect cancer patients from the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy as well as making cancer treatments more effective. – source
What is MCAS?
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a chronic condition that affects all organ systems. MCAS is serious and disabling and people with MCAS often experience significant and debilitating symptoms daily, including anaphylaxis, which can be fatal.
MCAS is often found in combination with other chronic conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).
Frequently healthcare providers do not know about MCAS, and the tests for MCAS are problematic because they are not uniformly reliable. MCAS can be difficult to manage. Treatments include blocking mast cell mediators with anti-histamines and mast cell stabilizers, as well as avoiding triggers.
Check out this post on how to manage MCAS.
The bucket theory
The bucket theory offers a helpful analogy for understanding symptom reactions with MCAS.
Think of your body as an empty bucket that you want to keep from overflowing. Different foods and activities fill your histamine bucket at different speeds but they combine to form the total level of histamine in your body (how full your bucket is). A fuller bucket means you have more histamine symptoms. When you manage triggers, reduce exposure to known triggers, and take medications and supplements to reduce histamine, you can manage the level of your bucket.
Know your typical symptom progression
Knowing your symptom progression in a symptom flare is the key to developing your own rescue plan. In this post, I discuss how to determine your own symptom progression. Once you know what typically happens in your symptom progression you can design a rescue plan to address those symptoms.
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Benefits of taking melatonin for MCAS?
For the general population, melatonin supplements may help with certain conditions, such as jet lag, delayed sleep-wake phase disorder, some sleep disorders in children, and anxiety before and after surgery.
For those with MCAS Melatonin has been shown to prevent mast cells from activating, thereby preventing the release of histamine and other inflammatory agents into the bloodstream, when they’re not needed. By inhibiting mast cell activation melatonin exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. – source
Mast cells have also been shown to have melatonin in them: “… the necessary machinery to synthesize melatonin is present in mast cells and that these cells showed the presence of MT1 and MT2 melatonin membrane receptors. Those results indicated that the melatonin would be able to exert a regulatory effect on inflammatory reactions mediated by mast cells.” – source
So this might explain why those with MCAS are particularly sensitive to changes in routine.
Melatonin is also suspected to be helpful in treating tinnitus, which many people with MCAS experience. – source
Melatonin and sleep
This post discusses MCAS and sleep issues.
Histamine can affect serotonin, GABA, and melatonin levels. These are all needed to help you fall asleep. If serotonin, GABA, and melatonin get too low, your sleep can suffer. – source
Melatonin and cytotoxicity
This study found that “melatonin treatment reduced the cytotoxicity, mediated by PMACI, and could provide a useful therapeutic option in processes where an excessive activation of mast cells occurs.”
Melatonin supplementation
I use this brand of melatonin because it is cheap and it does the job. Though some practitioners believe that 1-3 mg of melatonin is sufficient to help with sleep, I find that with MCAS I need 10 mg. My healthcare practitioner is of the mind that any melatonin that is not readily used for sleep is helpful for immune support.
If you are experiencing an acute issue and want to make sure you are absorbing melatonin most effectively then liposomal melatonin can be a great option.
Melatonin sources in food
Food sources of melatonin include cherries, bananas, grapes, rice, cereals, fresh herbs, olive oil, and wine. All but herbs and olive oil are considered high in histamine, so food sources are not the best way to obtain melatonin.
What are the side effects of melatonin?
All supplements have the possibility of side effects. Melatonin supplementation is considered relatively safe because only mild side effects have been reported in various short-term studies. Some of the mild side effects that were reported in the studies included:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Sleepiness
The possible long-term side effects of melatonin use are unclear.
Exercise caution with melatonin for MCAS
Check with your healthcare practitioner before adding melatonin or any other supplements to your routine. What works for one person might not for you, and there’s no guarantee we won’t react to something even if it has mast cell stabilizing or antihistamine properties.
