Melatonin: When candy-like supplements meant for adults harm unsuspecting children

The production and release of melatonin in the brain is connected to time of day, increasing when it's dark and decreasing when it's light.

While our bodies produce the sleep hormone, some struggle with melatonin levels hence failure is signaling the body when it is time to sleep.

They then resort to supplements of Melatonin hormone to help them get some sleep. 

The supplements are sold as a dietary supplement in the form of a pill, liquid or gummy.

When children are at risk 

According to Dr Jane Ng’ang’a, a physician in Nairobi, the consumption of melatonin supplements has gained popularity, equally attracting the curiosity of children. 

“Unfortunately, the risk of accidental ingestion especially among children is high because of the availability of candy-like melatonin,” she explains. 

Although some packages come in child-resistant caps, others don’t, hence the exposure to the unsuspecting children who ingest it thinking it is a candy.

“Children are curious and oblivious, some of the bottles might be improperly closed or easy to open consequently unintentional melatonin consumptions especially for the gummies and chewable,” she explains. 

In America, manufacturers of over-the-counter melatonin supplements recently voted to adopt a deadline to make their packaging more child-proof as concerns grow about a spike in children accidentally ingesting them.The trade association the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) recommended brands take 18 to 24 months to amend their existing packaging to safeguard infants and carry more prominent warning labels.

The recommendation follows a sharp increase in hospital visits of children who unintentional ingest the hormones that help regulate the body’s circadian rhythm or sleep- wake pattern.

11,000 American children were admitted to hospitals between 2019 and 2022 as a result of taking melatonin supplements without supervision. Almost half of these cases involved gummy supplements that look like delicious candies. This is according to research released by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention last month.

The trade association the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) recommended the manufacturers to amend existing packaging by carrying more prominent warning labels in order to safeguard children.

Dr Nga’ng’a notes that the recommendation is valid because they pose a risk particularly to the gullible children and cautions adult using them as sleep aid to keep them out of reach.

“It poses a risk particularly to children; the industry needs to do a much better job at ensuring their products are well manufactured and packed. Unsuspecting children can consume it and regrettably in large higher amount can be dangerous to their health,” she states. 

According to the doctor, symptoms of melatonin ingestion in children include headache, restlessness, stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhoea and nausea.

“Double dosing will probably not cause severe consequences, in severe cases, children might fall into coma and experience challenge with breathing especially when taken in large dose,’ she explains.

Melatonin should not be given to children before consulting with their pediatrician. She encourages keeping medicines out of the reach of children and educating children about drug safety. Children who are neurodiverse may benefit from taking melatonin.

“Children with ADHD, autism and many other neurodevelopment disorders tend to really struggle with sleep. We don't advocate using melatonin without first tackling the overall picture of sleep. Most of the time, the solution is not melatonin.”

How to increase melatonin hormone for natural sleep

Higher melatonin production leads to better sleep. Dr Ng’ng’a emphasizes on powering down screens at least one hour before bedtime. Put your computers and digital equipment away at least an hour before bed because blue and white wavelengths from these devices can affect melatonin production. 

"Exposure to light can decrease the body's natural production of melatonin, which can make it harder to fall asleep. At night, exposure to darkness prompts melatonin to flood our brains, making us sleepy,” she says.

Stress and anxiety can interfere with sleep cycle, the stress hormone cortisol can inhibit the release of norepinephrine and therefore the release of melatonin.

“When melatonin levels are high, cortisol should be low, and vice versa. Melatonin and cortisol have an inverse connection. Our capacity to sleep is impacted when one of these is out of balance.”

Additionally, the physician notes that eating magnesium rich food and exposure to sunlight helps in the production of sleep hormone.

“Magnesium rich food plays a role in slowing brain activity at night, magnesium can be found in avocado, pumpkin seeds, green leafy vegetables and almonds. Sunlight especially in the morning is also important, this helps regulate melatonin production by reducing its levels,” she advises.