Kids tucked in with a dose of melatonin

Parents who have tried melatonin - the nutritional supplement that is available at any pharmacy or health food store and is mainly promoted as an aid for travelers who have jet lag - say the pill has been nothing short of miraculous in getting their children to sleep. It's a trend that is occurring despite doctors' general reluctance to endorse melatonin as a sleeping aid for healthy children. Some experts say occasional use of melatonin for children is fine as long as the dosage does not exceed 3 milligrams, however, it is not recommend giving it to kids younger than 10.

Melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain, helps regulate the body's sleep-wake cycle, and its production is determined by light and dark. When darkness falls, the gland produces more melatonin, which promotes sleep.

Melatonin supplements have proved safe and effective in numerous studies for helping adults with jet lag. More than two dozen studies have shown that melatonin also helps children who have insomnia, and it has few or no side effects. After reviewing numerous studies, the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in 2005 concluded that melatonin supplements are safe if used for days or weeks. The agency found evidence that melatonin is effective in treating people who have delayed sleep syndrome, who chronically tend to fall asleep well after midnight. Nonetheless, medical groups have been cautious to endorse melatonin for children because nearly all the studies of melatonin on children were tested on those who had autism or other development disabilities or were blind. These children are given supplements because their bodies either don't produce melatonin or do so only erratically. The studies on children have been small, and there are no reports on the long-term effects of melatonin in children.

Bonnie - melatonin is a hormone. I never recommend hormone supplementation unless there is a clinical deficiency. Even in adults who ask me about melatonin, I always tell them to get a saliva test first to see if the level is low. Otherwise, you can throw your body further out of rhythm. In children, testing the level is even more important.