2 Jul 2026 05:18
The Gary Null Show - 7-2-26
- Melatonin may safely reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain, study finds
- Study: Nordic Walking Reduces Depression Symptoms Within Weeks
- Connection or compulsion: How smartphones can deepen depression in older adults
- This Popular Workout Supplement May Give Cancer Immunotherapy a Big Boost
- Probiotic metabolite found to suppress melanoma tumor growth in mice
A sleep supplement widely used to treat insomnia could help reduce reliance on some of the most common and potentially harmful pain medications, new research from the University of Sydney suggests.
Published in PAIN, the study found melatonin can reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain with effects in a similar range to medications such as opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and paracetamol.
The study analyzed data from 2028 adults across 23 randomised controlled trials conducted in countries including the United States, Russia, Brazil, Egypt and China. Participants included people with conditions such as low back pain, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, as well as those recovering from surgeries including joint replacements and spinal procedures.
On average, the study found that melatonin reduced pain by around nine points on a 0-100 scale, with the most rigorous trials showing reductions closer to 10 points, a similar magnitude to widely used pain medications.
Across the trials, the dose and timing of melatonin varied depending on the condition and setting. For chronic musculoskeletal pain, doses typically ranged from 3 to 10 mg, with 3 mg per day the most commonly used. For postoperative pain, doses ranged from 1 to 10 mg, with 5 to 6 mg most common. Melatonin was generally taken at bedtime or up to one hour before sleep.
Study: Nordic Walking Reduces Depression Symptoms Within Weeks
Université Grenoble Alpes (France), July 1 2026 (Natural News) A randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that supervised Nordic walking significantly reduced depression symptoms in adults with moderate to severe depression. The most pronounced improvements occurred within the first five weeks of the 10-week program, according to researchers. The study enrolled 64 adults, with 48 assigned to Nordic walking and 16 to a non-active control group.
The findings challenge the commonly cited three-month timeframe for exercise benefits on depression.
A secondary analysis examined whether participants with severe depression responded differently than those with moderate symptoms. According to the study, Nordic walking is a low-impact activity that engages the upper and lower body using poles, similar to cross-country skiing.
The Nordic walking group showed significantly greater reductions in depression symptoms compared to the control group over the full 10 weeks. The largest reduction occurred from baseline to week five, with a large effect size; improvements from week five to week ten were smaller and not statistically significant. Participants with severe depression at baseline experienced even larger and faster improvements in the first five weeks, according to the secondary analysis.
Connection or compulsion: How smartphones can deepen depression in older adults
Rutgers University, July 1 2026 (Eurekalert)
Compulsive smartphone habits in older adults can be linked to a higher risk of depression, according to a study led by a Rutgers researcher.
Researchers said their findings raised concerns that technology widely promoted to build connections can instead deepen late-life isolation: While mobile devices can be invaluable lifelines, their impact on mental health depends heavily on the way people use them. A critical distinction, the researchers said, is whether someone uses technology to actively engage with the world or to withdraw.
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