Melatonin Ain’t Candy

The AP reported late yesterday that a day care worker in Ohio was convicted of child endangerment after giving melatonin to children in her care in order to make them sleepy. It’s made all the more disturbing since the melatonin was hidden in candy given to the children.

The Chemical Structure of Melatonin

Here’s a quick look at melatonin, and why this sort of thing is frowned upon:

• Melatonin is a human hormone. In fact, it’s one of only two hormones that is not regulated in the US, but is regulated in many other parts of the world, including Europe.
• Melatonin can make one sleepy – if taken at the right time – or help with shifting the body’s circadian timing (the body clock).
• In children with sleep disturbances, melatonin has been shown to have a positive effect in improving sleep, in the short term with few side-effects.
• However, there is not much research out there on the effects of giving exogenous melatonin to healthy young children.
• Melatonin may be a hormone involved in the normal development of puberty – but how that works is at present unclear.
• Many melatonin supplements available for sale include many things other than melatonin, so you could be getting more than you bargained for.

It may seem benign, and fortunately, no children appear to have been harmed. Just keep in mind that melatonin ain’t candy.

Steve (ZQ: 100) is our resident Research Scientist, working to help people understand the science behind Zeo, as well as the science of sleep. He is one of the driving forces behind our Sleep Research Center.

Tagged as: Children, Hormones, Melatonin