Melatonin increase is directly correlated with higher testosterone because melatonin boosts luteinizing hormone
Luteinizing hormone upregulates testosterone synthesis by binding to LH receptors in Leydig cells
This is why testosterone is highest in the night/early morning
Vitamin D also upregulates steroid synthesis in Leydig cells, I'd go so far as to argue that sunlight exposure is the single biggest regulator of testosterone synthesis
This makes sense as an adaptation to seasonal food availability throughout human history
UV light: stimulates synthesis of vitamin D and its numerous analogs, and cholesterol sulfation
Red/infrared light: stimulates melatonin synthesis throughout the body, with highest melatonin release in low/no light environments
Age- and mental health-related circadian rhythms of plasma levels of melatonin, prolactin, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in man pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6799603/
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The melatonin produced in your pineal gland is actually on a minor factor compared to the melatonin synthesized in your cells and mitochondria
Melatonin regulates numerous aspects of cell function, regulating gene expression and acting as an antioxidant in cells
Intracellular melatonin is stable throughout the day, it doesn't follow the same circadian curve we see with blood melatonin levels, though these also impact cells
The interplay between these two sources of melatonin helps link circadian function between the body and the brain
Melatonin synthesis in cells is directly stimulated by infrared light, mostly from environmental light like sunlight or firelight, but potentially from infrared light put off energy production as well, this is a fantastic article on this connection:
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