研究设计
- 研究类型
- review
- 研究人群
- General population with insomnia. Narrative review of melatonin as a hormonal treatment for insomnia; discusses OTC availability, safety concerns, and need for large clinical trials.
- 干预措施
- Melatonin. Melatonin (various doses available without prescription in health food stores and pharmacies)
- 对照组
- Not specified
- 主要结局
- Efficacy and safety of melatonin for insomnia and sleep-wake cycle regulation
- 效应方向
- Neutral
- 偏倚风险
- Unclear
摘要
Melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland, appears to help regulate the sleep-wake cycle. With further study and clinical experience, it may become an accepted therapy for insomnia. Although melatonin preparations are available without prescription in health food stores and pharmacies, their potency, purity, safety and effectiveness cannot be assured. Until large clinical trials provide further information about melatonin's efficacy, adverse effects, drug interactions and effects on various disease states, melatonin products should be used with the understanding that many questions about their safety remain unanswered.