Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone secreted in the brain that regulates sleep. It appears to be highly sensitive to light therapy and dark therapy. Oral ingestion of melatonin may be used as a sleep aid. It is non-addictive.

Quick Answer

What it is

Melatonin is a hormone secreted in the brain that regulates sleep. It appears to be highly sensitive to light therapy and dark therapy.

Key findings

  • Grade A: Insomnia Signs and Symptoms (Insomnia)
  • Grade A: Abdominal Pain (Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS))
  • Grade B: Depression Symptoms (Depression)

Safety

No specific caution or interaction language was detected in the current summary/outcome notes.

ℹ️ Quick Facts: Melatonin

Quick Facts: Melatonin

  • Best Evidence:Grade A
  • Conditions Studied:28
  • Research Outcomes:141
  • Grade A Findings:2
  • Grade B Findings:3
  • Key Effect:Insomnia
Outcomes by grade:
A2
B3
C14
D8
28 conditions Β· 141 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

Grade:
Effect:
Size:
Sort:
|
A
Insomnia Signs and Symptoms
Large Improvement
large↓Improves
?
Sleep Quality
3 studies
↑Improves
A
Abdominal Pain
Moderate Improvement
3 studies
moderate↓Improves
?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Quality of Life
3 studies
↑Improves
B
Depression Symptoms
Small Improvement
17 studies
small↓Improves
?
Serum BDNF
↑Improves
B
Blood Pressure
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
Body Mass Index (BMI)
18 studies
↓Improves
?
Weight
15 studies
↓Improves
?
Waist circumference
11 studies
↓Improves
?
Hip Circumference
4 studies
↓Improves
B
Sleep Quality
Small Improvement
2 studies
small↑Improves
?
Tinnitus Symptoms
↓Improves
C
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
Small Increase
small↑Improves
D
Adrenaline
No effect
1 study
none
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
1 study
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
1 study
↓Improves
?
Cerebral Blood Flow
↑Improves
?
Fibrinogen
1 study
↑Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
1 study
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
↓Improves
?
Noradrenaline
1 study
↑Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
1 study
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
C
Insomnia Signs and Symptoms
Large Improvement
large↓Improves
?
Migraine Frequency
↓Improves
?
Migraine Duration
1 study
↓Improves
?
Migraine Severity
1 study
↓Improves
?
Sleep Quality
1 study
↑Improves
C
Insomnia Signs and Symptoms
Large Improvement
large↓Improves
?
Sleep Latency
↓Improves
?
Sleep Duration
9 studies
↑Improves
?
Migraine Frequency
↓Improves
?
Sleep Quality
1 study
↑Improves
C
Dyschezia
Moderate Improvement
1 study
moderate↑Improves
?
Dysmenorrhea Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Dyspareunia
1 study
↑Improves
?
Dysuria
1 study
↑Improves
?
Endometriosis-associated pelvic pain
1 study
↓Improves
?
Serum BDNF
↑Improves
?
Sleep Quality
1 study
↑Improves
C
Gastrin
Moderate Increase
1 study
moderate↓Worsens
?
GERD Symptoms
1 study
↓Improves
?
Heartburn Symptoms
1 study
↓Improves
?
Lower Esophageal Pressure
↑Improves
C
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
Small Increase
small↑Improves
?
Blood glucose
1 study
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
1 study
↓Improves
?
Fibrinogen
1 study
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
1 study
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
↓Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
1 study
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
C
Insomnia Signs and Symptoms
Large Improvement
large↓Improves
?
Sleep Quality
1 study
↑Improves
C
Gastrin
Moderate Increase
1 study
moderate↓Worsens
?
Plasma Melatonin
↑Improves
?
Stomach Ulcers
1 study
↑Improves
C
Gastrin
Moderate Increase
1 study
moderate↓Worsens
?
Ghrelin
↑Improves
?
Leptin
↑Improves
?
Stomach Ulcers
1 study
↑Improves
C
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
Small Increase
small↑Improves
?
Blood glucose
1 study
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
1 study
↓Improves
?
Fibrinogen
1 study
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
1 study
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
↓Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
1 study
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
C
Adiponectin
Small Increase
1 study
small↑Improves
?
Ghrelin
↑Improves
?
Glycemic Control
1 study
↑Improves
?
Insulin
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Leptin
↑Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Resistin
1 study
↑Improves
C
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
Small Increase
small↑Improves
?
Exercise-Induced Oxidation
↑Worsens
C
Insomnia Signs and Symptoms
Large Improvement
large↓Improves
?
Sleep Quality
1 study
↑Improves
C
Gastrin
Moderate Increase
1 study
moderate↑Improves
?
Ghrelin
↑Improves
?
Leptin
↑Improves
?
Stomach Ulcers
1 study
↑Improves
D
Blood glucose
No effect
4 studies
none
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
D
Adrenaline
No effect
2 studies
none
?
Body Mass Index (BMI)
18 studies
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
Weight
15 studies
↓Improves
?
Waist circumference
11 studies
↓Improves
?
Hip Circumference
4 studies
↓Improves
?
Noradrenaline
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Blood Flow
1 study
↑Improves
?
Dopamine
1 study
↑Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study
↓Improves
D
Adrenaline
No effect
1 study
none
?
Growth Hormone
↑Improves
?
Blood Flow
1 study
↑Improves
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
Cortisol
1 study
↓Improves
?
Exercise-Induced Oxidation
↑Worsens
?
Heart Rate
1 study
↓Improves
?
Inflammation
1 study
↓Improves
?
Muscle Damage
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Noradrenaline
1 study
↑Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
1 study
↓Improves
?
Prolactin
1 study
↑Improves
D
Heart Rate Variability
No effect
none
?
Sleep Quality
1 study
↑Improves
?
Walking Ability
↑Improves
D
Breast Cancer Risk
No effect
none
?
Estrogen
1 study
↑Worsens
?
IGF-1
↑Improves
D
Adrenaline
No effect
1 study
none
?
Alertness
1 study
↑Improves
?
Anxiety Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Attention
1 study
↑Improves
?
Cortisol
1 study
↓Improves
?
Memory
1 study
↑Improves
?
Noradrenaline
1 study
↑Improves
D
Adrenaline
No effect
1 study
none
?
Alertness
1 study
↑Improves
?
Anxiety Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Attention
1 study
↑Improves
?
Cortisol
1 study
↓Improves
?
Memory
1 study
↑Improves
?
Noradrenaline
1 study
↑Improves
?
Cancer Mortality
↓Improves
?
Jet Lag Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Cerebral Blood Flow
↑Improves
?
Intraocular Pressure
↑Improves

Evidence by Condition

Best grade per condition (each condition may have multiple outcomes)

AInsomnia
1
↓Insomnia Signs and SymptomsImproves↑Sleep QualityImproves
AIrritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
1
↓Abdominal PainImproves↓Irritable Bowel Syndrome SymptomsImproves↑Quality of LifeImproves
AJet Lag
1
↓Jet Lag SymptomsImproves
BTinnitus
1
↑Sleep QualityImproves↓Tinnitus SymptomsImproves
BDepression
1
↓Depression SymptomsImproves↑Serum BDNFImproves
BBody Composition
1
↓Blood PressureImproves↓Body Mass Index (BMI)Improves↓WeightImproves
CHigh Blood Pressure
2
↑Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileImprovesAdrenaline↓Blood PressureImproves
CMigraine Headache
1
↓Insomnia Signs and SymptomsImproves↓Migraine FrequencyImproves↓Migraine DurationImproves
CSleep Health
1
↓Insomnia Signs and SymptomsImproves↓Sleep LatencyImproves↑Sleep DurationImproves
CEndometriosis
1
↑DyscheziaImproves↓Dysmenorrhea SymptomsImproves↑DyspareuniaImproves
CGastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
1
↓GastrinWorsens↓GERD SymptomsImproves↓Heartburn SymptomsImproves
CHigh Cholesterol
1
↑Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileImproves↓Blood glucoseImproves↓Blood PressureImproves
CCognitive Improvement
1
↓Insomnia Signs and SymptomsImproves↑Sleep QualityImproves
CGeneral Gut Health
1
↓GastrinWorsens↑Plasma MelatoninImproves↑Stomach UlcersImproves
CMetabolic Syndrome
1
↑Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileImproves↓Blood glucoseImproves↓Blood PressureImproves
CNonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
1
↑AdiponectinImproves↑GhrelinImproves↑Glycemic ControlImproves
CSoccer Performance
1
↑Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileImproves↑Exercise-Induced OxidationWorsens
CObstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
1
↓Insomnia Signs and SymptomsImproves↑Sleep QualityImproves
CH. Pylori Infection
1
↑GastrinImproves↑GhrelinImproves↑LeptinImproves
DMetabolic Health
1
Adrenaline↑Growth HormoneImproves↑Blood FlowImproves

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