Tag Archives: human health

Melatonin: A Sleep Aid That Keeps Doctor’s Up At Night

Melatonin is a common over-the-counter drug in many Canadian homes. Available as a pill, gummy, or vape. Currently, this hormone is a staple of many nighttime routines. However, many medical professionals do not support melatonin’s gain of popularity.

Our brain releases melatonin when it is dark. This hormone naturally signals our circadian rhythm. Melatonin supplements function as a sleep aid.

Chemical structure of melatonin.

Melatonin is an over-the-counter natural health product in Canada. While in many other countries, it is a prescription drug.

With many forms of melatonin commercially available in Canada, use has increased dramatically from 2000-2018. The marketing of this hormone has led to uses against medical advice gaining popularity. Many use melatonin to control sleep schedule abnormalities caused by sleep disorders, anxiety, and restlessness.

Users have even incorporated melatonin into their daily routines. Claiming it is the key component allowing them to maintain a healthy sleep schedule.

However, many doctors do not recommend long-term dosing of melatonin. Doctors strictly recommend melatonin for short-term usage.

Doctors generally only support using melatonin to recover from jet lag and other short-term sleep schedule interruptions.

The use of melatonin to treat the common sleep disorder delayed sleep-wake phase disorder has been controversial. Sleep specialists prefer to treat it with bright light therapy or chronotherapy.

There is also a lack of scientific evidence supporting that melatonin use can improve the sleep quality of people with insomnia.

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder. People with insomnia may turn to melatonin for relief.

There is also evidence that long-term use may lead to your body stopping the natural production of melatonin, leaving you dependent on the hormone.

So, consult your doctor before taking melatonin. For every positive testimonial from someone who freely doses themselves, a medical professional is frowning on that decision.

The Swelling Concerns on Food Allergies: Prevalence or Awareness?

Food allergies appear to be an increasing worry to the Canadian public, with common allergens such as nuts, milk, and eggs being frequently used in foods of all cultures. Some allergic reactions produce the immunoglobulin E antibody, which can lead to life-threatening anaphylactic shock. The question is whether allergy prevalence is rising alongside these concerns.

Some Common Food Allergies Source: NIAID

Health Canada and AllerGen NCE supported the University of Calgary and the University of Waterloo’s research to estimate the prevalence of food allergies in the country. The study surveyed 5,784 Canadian households in 2016, asking people to report their food allergies.

The percentage of Canadians that had a perceived food allergy, claimed by self-report, was noticeably higher than the percentage with a probable food allergy, supported by family history or physician diagnosis.

Food Allergy Prevalence in Canada Source of Data: Government of Canada

Clarke et al. compared these results to data from 2010, observing a noticeable increase in overall food allergy claims (7.1% to 9.3%), but only a minimal change in supported food allergy claims (5.9% to 6.1%).

While the actual prevalence of food allergies did not rise significantly, Clarke et al. states that the increase in self-reported allergies is likely due to raised awareness.

Continuing to spread awareness on food allergies is actually beneficial, as they are not curable. Severe allergic reactions are treated by an epinephrine injection in emergency situations, making educating people and properly labelling food products that much more important.

Aspartame Health Risk Claims Seem Artificial

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that replaces sugar in several food products. Ever since James M. Schlatter discovered it in 1965, the public has had ongoing questions about whether consumption poses a potential threat to our health. The low-calorie sugar substitute is appealing with diabetes cases in Canada rising to 8.9% of the population. Canada approved the usage of aspartame in 1981, so why is there still a controversy?

Equal Sweetener Source: 怡口糖 by SoQ錫濛譙

People have accused aspartame of causing health issues related to toxicity, diabetes, cancer, seizures, and allergies. The reality is that most of these speculations are unsupported, and the government of Canada had to examine numerous research studies to allow Aspartame’s approval in the first place.

Haighton et al. reviewed past cancer epidemiology investigations that claimed to present evidence for these suspicions. After evaluating them, they concluded that the results did not give reasons to believe there was a correlation between aspartame and cancer risk. Considerations going into this decision included how many experiments used diet soft drinks as their main sample source, which contain other compounds and sweeteners besides aspartame.

Aspartame Structure Source: Benjah-bmm27

However, there are health risks that have been discovered in regards to aspartame. It metabolizes into methanol and aspartic acid, as well as phenylalanine, a compound that negatively impacts patients with the disorder phenylketonuria. Therefore companies are required to label products to caution people of phenylalanine content.

The uncertainty around aspartame encourages the need for continued studies to identify the definitive effects of long-term aspartame consumption. It will keep Canada informed to lower the discrepancy between the public view and make sure that the acceptable daily intake, currently 40 milligrams per kilogram body weight, is up to date with health safety precautions.

For now it seems aspartame is here to stay, and we can continue to enjoy the sweetener.

Aspartame Health Risk Claims Seem Artificial

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that replaces sugar in several food products, though it raises questions about whether consumption poses a potential threat to our health. The low-calorie sugar substitute is appealing with diabetes cases in Canada rising to 8.9% of the population. Canada approved the usage of aspartame in 1981, so why is there still a controversy?

Figure 1: Equal Sweetener Source: 怡口糖 by SoQ錫濛譙

A study was done to review past cancer epidemiology investigations that claimed to present evidence for these suspicions. After evaluating them, they concluded that the results did not give reasons to believe there was a correlation between aspartame and cancer risk. Considerations going into this decision included how many experiments used diet soft drinks as their main sample source, which contain other compounds and sweeteners besides aspartame.

For now it seems aspartame is here to stay, and we can continue to enjoy the sweetener.