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Melatonin: Restoring the Reputation of a Valuable Sleep Aid

Once considered the secret to good sleep, the hormone melatonin suffered a decline in reputation in recent years as a solid over-the-counter sleep aid.
Patients complained it didn’t work and studies showed it increased the risk of hypothermia.
Part of the problem, according to researchers, was the melatonin available was doses approximately 10 times greater than needed by the average person. At this strength, the hormone quickly becomes ineffective. In clinical terms, the brain receptors become unresponsive to the hormone at high dosages. The risks associated with melatonin were identified at the higher dosage levels of 3mg and greater.
Previous research by Richard Wurtman of the Massachusets Intitute of Techology has shown that only 0.3 milligrams of melatonin is needed to help sleep.
A recently released study by Wurtman further validates melatonin’s place as a sleep aid. In a review of 17 studies, the MIT team conducted a meta-analysis to determine if melatonin has a significant effect. The studies put to rest the controversy–showing the hormone’s beneficial effect on sleep, when taken in the right dosage.
MIT now owns the patent on melatonin dosages up to 1 mg.
The sleep-inducing hormone is now available on the market in the more beneficial dosage of 200 mcg or 0.2 mg.
For more information on the studyby Richard Wurtman, go to: http://web.mit.edu/bcs/people/wurtman.shtml