Experts raise concerns over rising reliance on melatonin

Experts are raising concerns about the growing trend of people, particularly young adults, turning to over-the-counter melatonin supplements to manage sleep disorders without proper medical supervision. Sleep specialists warn that unsupervised consumption of melatonin could lead to long-term side effects, including disruption of the body’s natural hormone synthesis and symptoms such as stomach ache, night terrors and anxiety. “Melatonin is the buzzword when talking of sleep health, especially among adolescents,” said Dr Vikas Mittal, director of Wellness Home Clinic and Sleep Centre in Paschim Vihar. “People are consuming melatonin without understanding the appropriate dosage, potential side effects, or its impact on their natural sleep-wake cycles,” Mittal added. “The early introduction of synthetic melatonin might interfere with the body’s natural hormonal production and regulation.” Research published in the National Library of Medicine suggests limited effectiveness, with melatonin treatment reducing sleep onset time by only four minutes, increasing sleep efficiency by 2.2%, and extending total sleep duration by 12.8 minutes.