Taking too much melatonin can cause unwanted effects, most often excessive sleepiness, dizziness, headache, nausea, or reduced alertness. There is no single dose that defines an overdose for everyone, because the risk depends on the person, product, amount taken, other medicines or substances, and symptoms. Most reported exposures are not associated with severe toxicity, but … Read more
There are many Melatonin benefits beyond sleep. Melatonin is usually associated with sleep, jet lag, and the body’s internal clock. But scientists are studying this hormone for much more than sleep. Research has explored its possible effects on oxidative stress, inflammation, immune signaling, brain health, mitochondria, cardiovascular function, metabolism, pain and reproductive health. Some of … Read more
Pregnancy can make sleep difficult, and melatonin may seem like a simple solution. But there is an important difference between the melatonin your body naturally produces during pregnancy and melatonin taken as a supplement. Natural melatonin is part of normal pregnancy biology, while supplemental melatonin has not been studied well enough to establish that it … Read more
Sleep often changes with age, and melatonin may help some older adults with certain sleep or circadian problems. Natural melatonin production tends to change as we get older, but lower melatonin does not automatically mean that a supplement is needed. Research suggests that some older adults, particularly those with certain types of insomnia, may experience … Read more
Your body produces melatonin naturally through a series of biochemical steps that begin with the amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan is converted to 5-HTP, then serotonin, N-acetylserotonin, and finally melatonin, mainly in the pineal gland. Your circadian clock and the light-dark cycle determine when this pathway becomes much more active, which is why melatonin normally rises … Read more