Could Melatonin Help Teens Sleep?

Posted on January 1, 2009 in Health & Medicine, Parenting, Recent Studies

Parents of tired teens are particularly concerned with finding sleep solutions. Could dietary supplement called melatonin provide the answer?

Melatonin products are usually synthetic versions of the hormone made naturally by the pineal gland, which helps regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle. The gland produces more melatonin in the dark to help you drift off.

However, studies observing the effects of melatonin on children under age 18 are limited. The safety of taking the supplement still remains unclear. Doctors worry that because melatonin is sold as a supplement, it may not be regulated with the same caution that prescription drugs receive. With that said, kids older than age 10 can take the recommended dose of three mg or less, for short-term use.

A safer alternative is to limit television or Internet close to bedtime. The light emanating from the screen can interfere with the body’s ability to wind down.