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Reason for not having melatonin supplements

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Melatonin supplements are discouraged for routine use because of potential hormonal effects, unreliable dosing, and limited benefits for sleep.

  • Doses and label accuracy: Many products contain far more melatonin than the body naturally produces, and testing has found amounts ranging from a fraction of the labeled dose to several times more.
  • Hormonal effects: Melatonin interacts with reproductive hormone systems, and it can suppress the onset of puberty; chronic use in children is a particular concern.
  • Limited sleep benefit: It may help people fall asleep but generally does not help them stay asleep. In healthy adults, one meta-analysis found an average increase of only 3.9 minutes of total sleep.
  • Occasional use: It may have a place for short-term situations such as jet lag, but routine or chronic use is discouraged.

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