A recent study by Cambridge Health Alliance found that more than two dozen melatonin gummies sold as sleep aids had potentially dangerous amounts of the hormone.
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Dr. Alon Avidan, a neurologist and director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center, told KNX News that melatonin is a natural hormone that helps us sleep but, as a packaged product, is considered a dietary supplement and, therefore, not regulated.
What's more, he says because the product is unregulated, dosage isn't either and can sometimes contain other unregulated compounds such as CBD.
He says while melatonin is typically safe and effective for children, exceeding the recommended dosage can cause problems such as agitation, dizziness, unintended consequences that might interfere with development - and in some extreme cases, death.
Generally speaking, Dr. Avida says the recommended melatonin dosage for preschool age (3-5 years old) is 1-2mg, while 6-12-year-olds and 13-18-year-olds may benefit from 2-3mg and 3-5mg, respectively.
However, Dr. Avidan advises that parents seek guidance from a pediatrician or sleep specialist before giving melatonin to their children and cautions against taking medicine in gummy form, as it can be challenging to control the dosage.
Listen to the whole interview below.
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