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Product Description
What is melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland, a small gland in the brain, that helps regulate sleep and wake cycles. Very small amounts of melatonin are found in foods such as meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables.
What does natural melatonin do in the body?
Your body has its own internal clock that helps regulate your natural cycle of sleeping and waking hours (or circadian rhythm) in part by controlling the production of melatonin. Normally, melatonin levels begin to rise in the mid- to late evening, remain high for most of the night, and then decline in the early morning hours.
Natural melatonin production is partly affected by light. During the shorter days of the winter months, melatonin production may start earlier or, more often, later. This change can lead to symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or winter depression.
Natural melatonin levels decline gradually with age. Some older adults produce very small amounts of melatonin or none at all.
Why is melatonin used as a dietary supplement?
Melatonin dietary supplements are used to treat jet lag or sleep problems (insomnia). Scientists are also looking at other possible effective uses for melatonin, including:
• Treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
• Helping regulate sleep for people who work evenings or nights.
• Preventing or reducing problems with sleeping or confusion after surgery.
• Reducing chronic cluster headaches.
It has been suggested that melatonin, when taken as a supplement, may stop or delay the spread of cancer, strengthen the immune system, or slow the aging process. But these areas need further research.
Melatonin is also being studied for the treatment of sleep problems in blind people.2 People who are blind with no perception of light can have sleep problems such as sleeping during the day and being awake at night.
Is taking a melatonin dietary supplement safe?
Melatonin dietary supplements are generally safe in low doses for short-term and long-term use. Be sure to discuss melatonin use with your health professional.
Children and pregnant or nursing women should not take melatonin dietary supplements without a health professional's approval.
Do not drive or operate machinery when taking melatonin if it causes drowsiness.
Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland, a small gland in the brain, that helps regulate sleep and wake cycles. Very small amounts of melatonin are found in foods such as meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables.
What does natural melatonin do in the body?
Your body has its own internal clock that helps regulate your natural cycle of sleeping and waking hours (or circadian rhythm) in part by controlling the production of melatonin. Normally, melatonin levels begin to rise in the mid- to late evening, remain high for most of the night, and then decline in the early morning hours.
Natural melatonin production is partly affected by light. During the shorter days of the winter months, melatonin production may start earlier or, more often, later. This change can lead to symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or winter depression.
Natural melatonin levels decline gradually with age. Some older adults produce very small amounts of melatonin or none at all.
Why is melatonin used as a dietary supplement?
Melatonin dietary supplements are used to treat jet lag or sleep problems (insomnia). Scientists are also looking at other possible effective uses for melatonin, including:
• Treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
• Helping regulate sleep for people who work evenings or nights.
• Preventing or reducing problems with sleeping or confusion after surgery.
• Reducing chronic cluster headaches.
It has been suggested that melatonin, when taken as a supplement, may stop or delay the spread of cancer, strengthen the immune system, or slow the aging process. But these areas need further research.
Melatonin is also being studied for the treatment of sleep problems in blind people.2 People who are blind with no perception of light can have sleep problems such as sleeping during the day and being awake at night.
Is taking a melatonin dietary supplement safe?
Melatonin dietary supplements are generally safe in low doses for short-term and long-term use. Be sure to discuss melatonin use with your health professional.
Children and pregnant or nursing women should not take melatonin dietary supplements without a health professional's approval.
Do not drive or operate machinery when taking melatonin if it causes drowsiness.
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