• Magazine
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • Change Mailing Address
    • Surveys
    • Guidelines for Authors
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Editorial Deadlines
    • Dynamic Chiropractic
      • Newspaper
      • Subscription
    • The American Chiropractor
      • Magazine
  • Practice
    • Business Tips
    • Chiropractic Schools
    • Clinical & Technique
    • eBooks
    • eCourses
    • Sponsored Content
    • Infographics
    • Quizzes
    • Wellness & Nutrition
    • Personal Growth
    • Podcast
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • Resource Centers
  • Products & Services
    • Buyers Guide
    • Products Directory
    • Submit a Product
    • Vendor Login
  • Datebook
    • Become an Events Poster
    • Post an Event
    • View Events
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
  • Advertise
    • Advertising Information
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us

Your Online Chiropractic Community

Chiropractic Economics Your Online Chiropractic Community
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • News
  • Webinars
  • Chiropractic Research
  • Students

Tired? Melatonin supplements can aid in sleep

Chiropractic Economics July 31, 2014

177757662Melatonin, a hormone generated in the brain by the pineal gland, helps control your sleep and wake cycles. Small amounts can be found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and meats, but many people buy it as a supplement.

Natural melatonin levels are highest at night and are partly controlled by your internal clock. These levels can be affected by light, especially in the winter months when the days get shorter. During the winter, seasonal depression may pop up, and that can partially be caused by natural melatonin levels being produced earlier or later in the day than usual.1

Age makes a difference, too, as melatonin levels slowly decrease. Some older adults may stop producing the hormone altogether.

Despite age or the time of day, there could be many reasons a person may want to take melatonin to help aid in sleep, like jet lag.

Jet lag occurs when a person changes time zones, whether via plane, train, or car. It can cause sleepiness during the day, loss of appetite, impaired alertness, and depressed mood, among other symptoms. Some are more prone to suffer from jet lag than others, especially depending on how many time zones are crossed.

A study titled “Jet Lag: Use of Melatonin and Melatonergic Drugs,” published in Melatonin and Melatonergic Drugs in Clinical Practice, found that the supplement is a highly effective treatment for jet lag and its range of symptoms, pointing to “the therapeutic values of melatonin and its agonists such as ramelteon in reducing the jet lag symptoms and use of the melatonergic antidepressant, agomelatine, for jet lag-associated depressive disorders.”2

Insomnia is another common reason a person may choose to reach for melatonin supplements. By definition, insomnia is simply the inability to sleep. The Mayo Clinic calls it a “persistent disorder” that many adults experience at some point in time. Common causes include stress, depression, anxiety, medical conditions, changes to your immediate environment, and caffeine, to name a few.

A research study titled “Meta-Analysis: Melatonin for the Treatment of Primary Sleep Disorders” reported on 19 studies involving over 1,600 subjects and found that melatonin “demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing sleep latency.” Overall, subjects taking the supplement saw their quality of sleep significantly improve, as opposed to those taking the placebo.

The study concluded that “melatonin decreases sleep onset latency, increases total sleep time and improves overall sleep quality. The effects of melatonin on sleep are modest but do not appear to dissipate with continued melatonin use … melatonin may have a role in the treatment of insomnia given its relatively benign side-effect profile compared to these agents.”3

Melatonin has also been shown to help those struggling with headaches, difficulty sleeping after surgery, and seasonal affective disorder.1

Research has found few significant side effects from the use of melatonin supplements for short-term use and in low doses; however, it is always important to consult a doctor before taking any nutritional supplements.

References

1Healthwise Inc. “Melatonin – Overview.” WebMD.com. http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview. Updated June 2012. Accessed July 2014.

2Av D, Brown G, Brzezinski A, Shillcutt S, Singh J, Srinivasan V, Zakaria R. “Jet Lag: Use of Melatonin and Melatonergic Drug.” Melatonin and Melatonergic Drugs in Clinical Practice. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-81-322-0825-9_26. Published October 2013. Accessed July 2014.

3Bloch M, Ferracioli-Oda E, Qawasmi A. “Meta-Analysis: Melatonin for the Treatment of Primary Sleep Disorders.” PsychiatryOnline.org. http://journals.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=1838891. Published January 2014. Accessed July 2014.

Related Posts

  • Get free training and personal assistance from SBAGet free training and personal assistance from SBA
  • Why massage therapy and chiropractic treatments are better togetherWhy massage therapy and chiropractic treatments are better together
  • Chiropractic and the research behind ‘social prescribing’Chiropractic and the research behind ‘social prescribing’
  • Try orthotics to help with sports injuriesTry orthotics to help with sports injuries
  • How to prioritize the safety of your patients’ medical dataHow to prioritize the safety of your patients’ medical data
  • Your chiropractic patients live in a mobile era. Do you?Your chiropractic patients live in a mobile era. Do you?

Filed Under: Nutritional Supplements, Resource Center

Current Issue

CE issue 2 cover

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube logoYouTube logoYouTube

Compare Subscriptions

Dynamic Chiropractic

The American Chiropractor

3948 3rd Street South #279,

Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Phone 904.285.6020

CONTACT US »

Privacy Policy & Terms of Service

Copyright © 2021, All Rights Reserved

SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAGAZINE

Get Chiropractic Economics magazine
delivered to your home or office. Just
fill out our form to request your FREE
subscription for 20 issues a year,
including two annual Buyers Guides.

SUBSCRIBE NOW »

Latest Chiropractic News

  • F4CP partners with 5 chiropractic colleges for mobile marketing campaign
  • Doctors of Chiropractic in the News: Community service and Olympic-level care
  • Foundation for Chiropractic Progress’ Podcast Wins Gold in the AVA Digital Awards
    Foundation for Chiropractic logo