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treatment of other forms of insomnia, but melatonin is a promising treatment for many
mild to moderate sleep disorders:
Brown et al. state that: “Melatonin is ... beneficial in mild to moderate sleep disorders.
Unlike most hypnotics, it does not disturb sleep architecture and does not lead to
habituation. Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials show that melatonin
improves sleep, reduces sleep onset latency^1 and restores sleep efficiency^2 in patients
with insomnia.”^3
The evidence is “robust” concerning the use of melatonin to counteract jet lag or
advance or to deal with shift pattern changes, which Mischoulon and Rosenbaum
support.
Mischoulon and Rosenbaum counsel that supplementation be administered at the right
circadian time, in low light situations, and in therapeutic dosages.
The Natural Standard rates only use of melatonin for jet lag as “A,” “supported by
strong scientific evidence,” stating that despite inconsistent studies, “overall, the
scientific evidence does suggest benefits of melatonin in up to 50% of people who
take it for jet lag.” Although the premise is unstated, this endorsement should be read
to include shift work adjustment as well.
Berkeley Wellness states that melatonin may be effective to help people whose sleep
patterns are disrupted by shift work or jet lag. Like Mischoulon and Rosenbaum,
Berkeley Wellness advises talking to a physician first and assuring that the dosage and
timing of melatonin use are appropriate.
- DELAYED PHASE SLEEP SYNDROME, INSOMNIA IN THE ELDERLY, SLEEP DISTURBANCES IN
CHILDREN WITH NEURO-PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS, AND SLEEP ENHANCEMENT IN
HEALTHY PEOPLE
Delayed phase sleep syndrome, insomnia in the elderly, sleep disturbances in children
with neuro-psychiatric disorders, and sleep enhancement in healthy people are all
rated as “B,” “good scientific evidence for this use,” meaning that there are enough
studies of sufficient reliability to make these “promising practices.”
