<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

I woud really like to use melatonin regularly and so watched the post with 
interest.  I also did some further reading and research for my own use.

Ray Sahelian, MD in his book Melatonin: Nature's Sleeping Pill says" Since 
melatonin improves and stimulatest he immune system, it couild possibly have 
detrimental effects in conditions where the immune system is already out of 
control.  These include autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus 
erythematous or lymphoproliferative conditions such as leukemias and 
lymphomas.  Persengiev (1993) reports melatonin administration in vitro 
(test tube) caused and increase in myeloma cell proliferation. "

Given our propensity for other autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis 
and diabetes, as well as our risk for lymphomas there does seem a good 
reason for caution.

I also found the following links:
http://autoimmunedisease.suite101.com/article.cfm/melatonin_in_autoimmune_disease

http://www.wholehealthmd.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=17E09E7CFFF640448FFB0B4FC1B7FEF0&nm=Reference+Library&type=AWHN_Supplements&mod=Supplements&mid=&id=494D7543D6CA42AB987FE5CC3A6C9D0B&tier=2

Also this article:

Pathobiology 1997 ; 65(4)190-4. Luzindole, a melatonin receptor antagonist, 
suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
      C S Constantinescu
      B Hilliard
      E Ventura
      A Rostami


Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. 
[log in to unmask] Melatonin has immune-enhancing effects and can 
exacerbate autoimmunity. Pinealectomy or light exposure, which suppress 
melatonin, inhibit T cell autoimmunity. To investigate the involvement of 
melatonin in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a 
T-cell-mediated autoimmune demyelinating disease, we tested the effect of 
luzindole, a melatonin receptor antagonist, on EAE. Luzindole-treated mice 
did not develop EAE after immunization with spinal cord homogenate, whereas 
control mice developed EAE. This study suggests that pharmacological 
inhibition of the immunoenhancing effects of melatonin may prevent 
autoimmune demyelination. MedlineID:
PMID: 9396042


The full text of this article may be accessible through PubMed at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9396042&dopt=Abstract

Thought list mates would want to see this info as well.

Jane 

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the Celiac List *
Archives are at: Http://Listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?LIST=CELIAC