Skip to Main Content

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.

advertisement

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.

Unlock this article by subscribing to STAT+ and enjoy your first 30 days free!

GET STARTED

Create a display name to comment

This name will appear with your comment

There was an error saving your display name. Please check and try again.