1 in 5 School-Aged Children Takes Melatonin for Sleep, Study Reveals

A recent study shows that nearly one in five school-aged children and preteens in the United States are taking melatonin supplements for sleep, sparking concerns about the safety of the products. Melatonin is a hormone that the brain produces in response to darkness, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle. In the United States, melatonin is sold as an over-the-counter dietary supplement or sleep aid. However, the growing prevalence of melatonin usage among children has sparked worries, given the limited safety and efficacy data available for the dietary supplements, according to researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) in a new study on Nov. 13....