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Dr. Grey AI

Condition

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which the airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing breathing pauses and drops in oxygen. Vitamin D has drawn the most interest because low levels are common in people with it, though the evidence is limited, and in five melatonin studies insomnia symptoms improved. Evidence for omega-3s, magnesium and N-acetyl cysteine is limited too, and the melatonin findings concern sleeplessness, not breathing pauses.

Sources: PMID 19584739; PMID 21340475

Supplements studied
1
Graded outcomes
1
Trials
1
People studied
1

Evidence by supplement

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

1 supplement

Melatonin

Melatonin: outcomes studied for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Insomnia Signs and Symptoms

Large Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Large effect5 studies1 person

Studies that measured insomnia signs and symptoms

and 2 more on the Melatonin page

Sleep QualityImproves (the measure goes up)1 person

Key findings

  • Insomnia Signs and SymptomsMelatoninImproves (the measure goes down)

The Obstructive Sleep Apnea Support protocol

1 primary supplement · 3 supporting supplements

See the full protocol

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.

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Studies cited

38 studies from PubMed

  1. Plasma insulin, leptin, adiponectin, resistin, ghrelin, and melatonin in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients treated with melatoninJ Pineal Res · PMID 22804755
  2. Effect of melatonin supplementation on body composition and blood pressure in adults: A systematic review and Dose-Response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial.Heliyon · PMID 39113944
  3. Effects of melatonin on vascular reactivity, catecholamine levels, and blood pressure in healthy menAm J Cardiol · PMID 10235107
  4. Acute effects of melatonin administration on cardiovascular autonomic regulation in healthy menAm Heart J · PMID 11320384
  5. Melatonin administration and pituitary hormone secretionClin Endocrinol · PMID 9509065
  6. The effect of melatonin administration on pituitary hormone secretion in manClin Endocrinol · PMID 10594526
  7. Melatonin supplementation ameliorates oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling induced by strenuous exercise in adult human malesJ Pineal Res · PMID 21615492
  8. The potential therapeutic effect of melatonin in Gastro-Esophageal Reflux DiseaseBMC Gastroenterol · PMID 20082715
  9. The effect of prolonged-release melatonin on sleep measures and psychomotor performance in elderly patients with insomniaInt Clin Psychopharmacol · PMID 19584739
  10. Evaluation of sleep, puberty and mental health in children with long-term melatonin treatment for chronic idiopathic childhood sleep onset insomniaPsychopharmacology · PMID 21340475
  11. Prolonged-release melatonin improves sleep quality and morning alertness in insomnia patients aged 55 years and older and has no withdrawal effectsJ Sleep Res · PMID 18036082
  12. Effect of melatonin on insomnia and daytime sleepiness, in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia (COMISA): A randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial.J Pharm Health Care Sci · PMID 38816846
  13. Effects of melatonin and tryptophan on healing of gastric and duodenal ulcers with Helicobacter pylori infection in humansJ Physiol Pharmacol · PMID 22204799
  14. Melatonin differentially affects vascular blood flow in humansAm J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol · PMID 21148765
  15. Melatonin treatment improves blood pressure, lipid profile, and parameters of oxidative stress in patients with metabolic syndromeJ Pineal Res · PMID 21138476
  16. Influences of melatonin administration on the circulation of womenAm J Physiol · PMID 9486289
  17. Effects of Melatonin Supplementation On Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Horm Metab Res · PMID 30861561
  18. Treatment of central and sensorineural tinnitus with orally administered Melatonin and Sulodexide: personal experience from a randomized controlled studyActa Otorhinolaryngol Ital · PMID 20111618
  19. Melatonin: can it stop the ringing?Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol · PMID 21859051
  20. The effects of melatonin on tinnitus and sleepOtolaryngol Head Neck Surg · PMID 16455366
  21. Effect of melatonin on tinnitusLaryngoscope · PMID 9504599
  22. Prophylaxis of migraine with melatonin: a randomized controlled trialNeurology · PMID 20975054
  23. Randomised clinical trial comparing melatonin 3 mg, amitriptyline 25 mg and placebo for migraine prevention.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry · PMID 27165014
  24. Efficacy on sleep parameters and tolerability of melatonin in individuals with sleep or mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Neurosci Biobehav Rev · PMID 35691474
  25. Melatonin improves memory acquisition under stress independent of stress hormone releasePsychopharmacology · PMID 18853147
  26. Efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of endometriosis: a phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialPain · PMID 23602498
  27. A randomized controlled trial of oral melatonin supplementation and breast cancer biomarkersCancer Causes Control · PMID 22370698
  28. Urinary 6-Sulphatoxymelatonin levels and risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women: the ORDET cohortCancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev · PMID 20200429
  29. Melatonin administrated immediately before an intense exercise reverses oxidative stress, improves immunological defenses and lipid metabolism in football playersPhysiol Behav · PMID 22212240
  30. Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of jet lagCochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 12076414
  31. Role of melatonin in mucosal gastroprotection against aspirin-induced gastric lesions in humansJ Pineal Res · PMID 20443220
  32. Effect of melatonin on intraocular pressureCurr Eye Res · PMID 3416618
  33. Melatonin in the treatment of cancer: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and meta-analysisJ Pineal Res · PMID 16207291
  34. The efficacy of exogenous melatonin supplement in ameliorating irritable bowel syndrome severity: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Formos Med Assoc · PMID 36257872
  35. Effects of melatonin supplementation on BDNF concentrations and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Behav Brain Res · PMID 36049659
  36. 12-week melatonin supplementation improved dynamic postural stability and walking performance in persons living with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial.Behav Brain Res · PMID 39122092
  37. 12-week melatonin intake attenuates cardiac autonomic dysfunction and oxidative stress in multiple sclerosis patients: a randomized controlled trial.Metab Brain Dis · PMID 39630381
  38. The effect of melatonin supplementation on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.Front Endocrinol · PMID 40698248

Supplement stack for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)