Melatonin is a hormone that our brain produces in response to darkness. It is the brain’s way of preparing the body for sleep. That is why this hormone is often called the sleep hormone.
Melatonin Gummies are not FDA-approved but are sold as a sleep aid in the United States without any prescription. These sweetened gummies are often sold in attractive Teddy Bear shapes in bright colors.
But new research shows that these supplements may not contain what they claim!
A new study by a team of researchers from the Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts and the University of Mississippi has found that these gummies may not be as effective as people think.
Researchers warn that some melatonin gummies may have more melatonin than declared on the label. The quantities can be off as much as 347 percent of what is claimed on their labels.
Researchers analyzed 25 products available in the market and found that 22 were mislabelled.
One brand did not contain any melatonin at all, despite its label stating that each dose had 3 milligrams of the hormone. Another brand had 10 milligrams per serving instead of the 3 milligrams it claimed.
Taking too much melatonin for you can lead to unpleasant side effects.
An alarming report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says that there has been a 530 percent increase in pediatric melatonin ingestions from 2012 to 2021. There were 27,795 emergency department and clinic visits, 4,097 hospitalizations, and 287 ICU admissions, and two deaths during that time.
