Melatonin

What is melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally by the pineal gland in the brain, mainly at night, which helps regulate the body's sleep-wake cycle (also known as the circadian rhythm). It plays a key role in signalling to the body that it is time to rest, thus acting as a "biological clock".

How does melatonin work?

During the day, light suppresses melatonin production. At nightfall, darkness triggers its release, making you feel sleepy. Melatonin levels remain high throughout the night, helping to maintain sleep, then fall as morning approaches.

The benefits of melatonin as a dietary supplement

Melatonin supplements are commonly used for their sleep-promoting properties and can also offer other potential benefits. These include

Improving sleep disorders

Insomnia: Melatonin can help people who have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. It is particularly effective for people with sleep phase delay, a condition in which the sleep cycle is delayed by two hours or more.

Jet lag: Travelling from one time zone to another disrupts the body's circadian rhythm, resulting in jet lag. Melatonin supplements can help reset the body's internal clock, making it easier to adapt to new time zones. Night work For people who work irregular hours (night shifts), melatonin can help them adapt to their atypical sleep schedules.

Shift work: For people who work irregular hours (night shifts), melatonin can help them adapt to their atypical sleep schedules.

May reduce pre-operative anxiety

Studies suggest that melatonin may help reduce pre-operative anxiety. When given before surgery, melatonin has been shown to reduce anxiety and improve sleep in patients, better than placebo and sometimes better than traditional medicines.

Antioxidant

Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant, which means it can help neutralise harmful free radicals in the body that cause oxidative stress. 

Dosage

The maximum authorised dosage in France is 1.9mg per day. Find out about the maximum dosage in your country.