WASHINGTON — Consumers turning to melatonin gummies to get some help falling asleep might be getting a lot more help than they bargained for, according to a new study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Researchers tested the melatonin concentration in more than two dozen gummy dietary supplements that recently launched and that were available at mainstream retailers like Amazon and Walmart. Nearly all of the products had more than 10% more melatonin than advertised. One product was even three times more powerful than the label suggested.
The study underscores the Food and Drug Administration’s lax regulation of melatonin supplements, and natural products more generally. The agency does not review supplements before they hit the market like it does for prescription drugs.
About the Author Reprints
To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page.
STAT encourages you to share your voice. We welcome your commentary, criticism, and expertise on our subscriber-only platform, STAT+ Connect