LOW-DOSE MELATONIN IMPROVES SLEEP IN HEALTHY MIDDLE-AGED SUBJECTS

We studied the effects of single evening doses of melatonin (0.3 mg an d 1.0 mg orally) on polysomnographically measured sleep in 15 healthy middle-aged volunteers, using a placebo-controlled, double-blind, cros s-over design. Compared to placebo, the 1.0 mg dose of melatonin signi ficantly increased Actual Sleep Time, Sleep Efficiency, non-REM Sleep and REM Sleep Latency. These data are consistent with the hypothesis t hat low dose melatonin has hypnotic effects in humans. It is possible that administered melatonin may have a role to play in the treatment o f sleep disorders.