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Facing a New Form of Risk for Children: Melatonin in Gummy Form
The Food and Drug Administration has historically expressed concerns about products with kid-friendly appearances, such as e-cigarettes with fun flavors or cannabis edibles disguised as mainstream candies. Unexpectedly, another seemingly harmless product has recently emerged as a significant hazard for children: melatonin, particularly in gummy form. According to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the use of this over-the-counter sleep aid has surged in recent years, leading to numerous calls to poison control centers and visits to emergency departments across the United States.
Surge in Melatonin Use
Melatonin, a neurohormone that regulates sleeping patterns, has grown in popularity as a remedy for sleep disorders and jet lag, even among children. The study revealed a dramatic increase in melatonin consumption in adults from 1999–2000 to 2017–2018. However, the broader availability of these appealing, candy-like supplements at homes has heightened the risk of unsupervised ingestion by children. The data reflected a striking 530% rise in calls to poison control centers and a 420% spike in emergency department visits due to accidental melatonin consumption by infants and children between 2009 and 2020.
Alarming Statistics
In the study’s estimations for the period 2019–2022, nearly 11,000 children were taken to emergency departments for inadvertently ingesting melatonin supplements. The majority of incidents involved solid melatonin, with gummies accounting for 47% of these cases. Concerningly, children aged 3 to 5 appeared to be most frequently impacted by melatonin-related emergencies, defying the typical trend of medicine-related exposures in infants and toddlers aged 1 to 2.
Health Implications and Safety Concerns
While the study found that most cases resulted in mild or no effects, approximately 6.5% of children required hospitalization following melatonin consumption. Reported symptoms from a 2022 study encompassed issues with gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems. Supervised melatonin use in children for sleep improvement may lead to side effects like drowsiness, increased bedwetting, headache, dizziness, and agitation. However, the long-term consequences of regular use or acute exposure to melatonin in children remain largely uncharted territory.
Recommendations for Improved Safety
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health advises that supervised short-term use of melatonin in children appears safe. Still, the potential impacts on hormone regulation, puberty, menstrual cycles, and prolactin levels remain uncertain. The study authors emphasize the necessity of educating parents and caregivers on the critical importance of securely storing all medications, including gummies, out of children’s reach and sight.
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