Medical Terminology

melatonin

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Melatonin is a hormone that the body produces to regulate sleep. The production and release of melatonin is connected to the time of day – increasing when it is dark outside and decreasing when it is light. Melatonin production gradually decreases with age, and melatonin is available as a supplement, usually in the form of an oral tablet. It is often used to combat jet lag or insomnia, although one small study found that melatonin taken at bedtime relieved excessive daytime sleepiness in 50% of participants. Read more about melatonin at FamilyDoctor.org HERE and on HF’s Treatment web page HERE.

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