Originally published October 27 2005
Melatonin can help people suffering from sleep disorders
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The journal Sleep has published a report by Northwestern University researchers that details the effectiveness of melatonin in treating sleep disorders by administering carefully timed supplements.
The dietary supplement melatonin may be an effective treatment for sleep problems caused by disturbances in the body's internal clock, but treatment timing may be everything.
In a study published in the October issue of the journal Sleep, Northwestern University researchers reported that melatonin was most effective in resetting the body's internal, or circadian, clock when it was timed to the individual's sleep patterns.
They reported difficulty falling asleep at conventional bedtimes.
When this occurs because of disturbances in circadian rhythms it is known as delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS).
"This is a fairly common problem that can have a tremendous impact on school and work performance and all aspects of a person's life," researcher Margarita Dubocovich, PhD, tells WebMD.
Circadian rhythm disorders are disruptions in the body clock that regulates when a person wakes and sleeps over the course of a 24-hour day.
Jet lag, shift work, medications, and changes in routine can all disrupt the body's internal clock, but no obvious external influences exist in people with DSPS.
While some studies have shown melatonin supplements to be effective for treating circadian rhythm disorders like DSPS, the timing of treatment has not been well understood.
Furthermore, there is no evidence supporting the use of melatonin in treating insomniathere is no evidence supporting the use of melatonin in treating insomnia, according to a report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
She warned, however, that people with sleep problems should not self-medicate with melatonin.
In an editorial accompanying the paper, Lockley wrote that identifying the individual patient's biological sleep patterns is an important challenge for the diagnosis and treatment of circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
Lockley is with the Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine.
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