Volume XII, Number 1: Winter 2005
New Review on Melatonin
A new report based on an analysis of the available scientific evidence, Melatonin for Sleep Disorders, has found that melatonin supplements appear to be safe for short-term use and may have limited benefits for people with certain sleep problems. The authors (scientists at the University of Alberta, Canada) noted that more research is necessary to confirm these conclusions. In its natural form, melatonin is a hormone believed to help regulate the body's sleep cycle; many people try melatonin supplements to self-treat sleep disorders. The report, produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and funded and requested by NCCAM, is available at www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/melatsum.htm or by calling toll-free 1-800-358-9295.
