It is also well known that this gland shrinks and declines dramatically in its ability to protect us as we age. Interesting enough the decline of the thymus gland parallels the decline of the melatonin producing pineal gland as we age. In experiments with animals it was found that if the melatonin level could be kept constant as they age, the shrinkage of the thymus gland could be greatly retarded. This provided greater immune protection for a longer period of time, and this in turn increased the animal s life span. As we have already seen, melatonin exerts a calming effect upon the immune system and keeps it from over-producing lymphocytes when they are not needed.
Some people have a health problem classified as an auto-immune disorder.
Researchers examined those with rheumatoid arthritis and found that they were indeed low in melatonin. Although research has not yet been conducted to see if supplements of melatonin would have a calming effect on their condition, or other auto immune disorders, it certainly seems that it might. Researchers specializing in the pineal gland believe this is because the level of melatonin is higher among women without sight. As far back as 1940, researchers had found that cancer and tumors grew faster in animals which had their pineal glands removed. They had also found that by adding an extract from pineal gland tissue to a group of cancer cells, that it would inhibit their growth.