Melatonin supplements marketed for children could be either ineffective or potentially hazardous to kids, according to a new study.
An analysis, led by a team of researchers that includes scientists for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), studied 110 melatonin products marketed for children. These products included gummies, chocolate, and jelly beans.
The study found that only half of the products contained the exact amount of melatonin it claimed on the package label. Other products contained either 0 milligrams or up to 50 milligrams of melatonin.
For perspective, medical professionals often recommend a starting dose of 0.5 to 1 milligram for pediatric patients. In more serious cases, children are prescribed up to 6 milligrams of melatonin, per Healthy Children.
What the Findings Mean for Children
Experts say the study's findings raise a potential cause for concern, specifically for the safety and quality of the melatonin products parents are giving their children.
This is critical, especially after some recent studies found an uptick in the use of melatonin products among children in the past few years. In 2020, an online survey of 933 parents conducted by YouGov for The New York Times found that nearly half of children who had trouble sleeping were taking melatonin supplements.
A similar survey conducted in 2023 found that 18% of children aged 5 to 9 and 6% of those aged 1 to 4 had been given melatonin in the previous month.
Can You Overdose on Melatonin?
It is unclear what constitutes a high dose of melatonin. It is also unclear what effects and health risks too much melatonin could pose to children. However, symptoms can include excessive sleepiness, agitation, and bed-wetting. Other symptoms also include an upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, and tiredness.
Typically, most symptoms will resolve on their own. In fact, a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that only a few of the 11,000 emergency room visits for the accidental ingestion of melatonin products resulted in the need for pediatric patients to be hospitalized. That study analyzed emergency room visits between 2019 and 2022.
That said, 1.6% of all cases of melatonin overdose may need medical attention, the CDC noted.
