Melatonin is a hormone produced in the brain that plays a key role in regulating your sleep-wake cycle. It works by increasing when it gets dark, signaling to your body that it’s time to wind down and rest, and decreases when exposed to light. However, factors like age, lifestyle, travelling, and stress can impact melatonin production, potentially disrupting your sleep patterns.

While melatonin is naturally produced, supplements are also available to help improve sleep, especially for those facing sleep disturbances like insomnia, jet lag, and circadian rhythm problems. Melatonin has low absolute oral bioavailability  (15%) due to its degradation in gastrointestinal system and first-pass metabolism when it is taken via oral tablet *. Therefore fast dissolving oral strips form of melatonin have advantages over oral conventional forms offeringfast and enhanced absorption through oral mucosa.

* Demure et al. 2000, ‘ The Absolute Bioavailability of Oral Melatonin’ J Clin Pharmacol2000;40:781-784

How Melatonin Works

Melatonin helps maintain your body’s internal clock, also known as your circadian rhythm. This clock regulates when you feel awake and when you feel sleepy. By naturally increasing melatonin levels before bedtime, it helps your body prepare for sleep, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Benefits of Melatonin

Research has shown that melatonin supplements can be helpful in managing occasional sleeplessness including:

• Circadian rhythm sleep issues in the blind: Melatonin has shown promising results in regulating sleep cycles for those who are visually impaired.
• Delayed sleep phase: For individuals with this condition, melatonin can help reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and align their sleep-wake cycle more closely with a conventional routine.
• Insomnia: While melatonin may not drastically affect sleep quality, it has been found to slightly reduce the time it takes to fall asleep, particularly in older adults who may have lower melatonin levels.
• Jet lag: Melatonin can alleviate jet lag symptoms by helping travelers adjust to new time zones more easily.

Safe Use of Melatonin

Melatonin is generally safe for short-term use when taken as directed. It’s important to treat melatonin like any other sleep aid, using it responsibly and under the supervision of a healthcare provider. For adults, low doses of melatonin are often sufficient, and taking it at the right time is crucial to ensure it aligns with your natural sleep cycle.

It’s recommended to avoid activities like driving or operating heavy machinery for a few hours after taking melatonin.

When to Be Cautious

As with any supplement, melatonin may interact with other medications. For example, it can have sedative effects when taken alongside medications for sleep or anxiety, and it may interact with blood pressure or diabetes medications. It’s always wise to consult a doctor before introducing melatonin, especially for those with pre-existing health conditions like autoimmune diseases.

Supporting Healthy Sleep with Melatonin

Incorporating melatonin as part of your sleep routine can be beneficial when used appropriately. It offers a natural way to support sleep, especially when external factors like stress or travel affect your sleep schedule. At HealthFast, we offer Sleep Strips that contain melatonin to help promote healthy sleep patterns, ensuring you can wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. In HealthFast Sleep Strips, Melatonin absorption starts through oral mucosa without first-pass metabolism demonstrating faster action to fall asleep.

Whether you struggle with occasional sleeplessness, jet lag, or maintaining a regular sleep schedule, melatonin can help restore balance to your nightly routine. With proper use and guidance, melatonin can be a valuable tool in achieving restful, rejuvenating sleep.