Melatonin increases the speed of falling asleep and adds to the quality of sleep. It also has a strong antioxidant property and is important for protecting cellular DNA. Melatonin is a derivative of the amino acid tryptophan. In humans, melatonin is primarily synthesized in the pineal gland and is released mostly at night to make falling asleep easier and improve the quality of sleep. In addition to sleep, melatonin has a strong antioxidant property and has been shown to support many other aspects of health such as immune and brain function. Melatonin also has strong antioxidant properties. It directly scavenges both hydroxyl and peroxyl free radicals, and it does so more effectively than most other antioxidants. It also greatly potentiates the efficiency of other endogenous and exogenous antioxidants.9 Melatonin is especially important for protecting cellular DNA against peroxynitrite damage by inhibiting peroxynitrite free radical reactions.10 And melatonin has been found to be superior to glutathione-3 as well as vitamins C and E in reducing oxidative damage. Melatonin has a beneficial impact on the immune system—it activates T-helper cells to trigger other immune cells in order to boost immune response to foreign molecules. The cognitive decline that occurs as we age may be directly related to the drop in melatonin.14-16 Melatonin supplementation can help support the brain's antioxidant defenses and potentially inhibit the factors that can lead to cognitive decline. Don't let your health decline—support optimal sleep and well-being by being proactive and stocking up on melatonin today!