CompoAtlas

Mélatonine in food supplements

2,291 supplements declared in France contain Mélatonine as a substance or active ingredient.

In cosmetics: MELATONIN.

Other names in the Compl'Alim list: Melatonin.

Compl'Alim declarations. Compl'Alim, food supplement declarations (France), retrieved 23 October 2026.

What health agencies say

An opinion says what the agency recommends; it is not a rule binding on the product.

ANSES advises against melatonin food supplements for pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and adolescents, people with an inflammatory or autoimmune disease, and before an activity that requires sustained alertness. It asks for medical advice for people with epilepsy, asthma, or mood, behaviour or personality disorders, and for people taking medication. Its experts recommend occasional use and no more than 2 mg a day. The opinion is based on 90 adverse-effect reports received from 2009 to May 2017.

ANSES, opinion of 23 February 2018, 2016-SA-0209.

The BfR considers that children and adolescents, pregnant or breastfeeding women, women wishing to conceive, people with reduced liver or kidney function, and people with an autoimmune disease or epilepsy should not take melatonin supplements without medical supervision.

BfR, opinion of 17 September 2024, 042/2024.

What we know about this ingredient

Uses

  • Derivatives and analogs of melatonin are being used in the development of preventive therapies of Alzheimer's disease.

  • Melatonin drugs and supplements have use in treating insomnia, sleep disorders and jet lag; treatment for reducing pain of "cluster headaches; some evidence that melatonin might improve the effectiveness of cancer drugs used to fight tumors in the breast, lung, kidney, liver, pancreas, stomach and colon.

PubChem : Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) · 2026-10-29 · Cottam HB; Antiaging Agents. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (1999-2014). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. Online Posting Date: Nov 14, 2003; Rxlist; The Internet Drug Index. Melatonin. Available from, as of Jan 21, 2014: https://www.rxlist.com/script/main/hp.asp.

Licence.

Use classification

  • Cosmetics -> Antioxidant

PubChem : NORMAN Suspect List Exchange · 2026-10-29 · S13 | EUCOSMETICS | Combined Inventory of Ingredients Employed in Cosmetic Products (2000) and Revised Inventory (2006) | DOI:10.5281/zenodo.2624118.

Licence.

A molecule found naturally in plants or organisms; in a supplement it may be extracted from them, made by fermentation or synthesised: the declaration does not say which.

Basis: one CosIngThe European Commission's database of cosmetic ingredients. CAS and natural occurrence recorded in Wikidata (LOTUS database).

Wikidata: names of substances in six languages and taxa in which they occur (largely from the LOTUS database), retrieved 23 October 2026.

Natural occurrence recorded in Wikidata (LOTUS database): 84 taxa; examples: Solanum lycopersicum, Solanum tuberosum, Scutellaria baicalensis, Scutellaria lateriflora, Angelica sinensis.

Wikidata: names of substances in six languages and taxa in which they occur (largely from the LOTUS database), retrieved 23 October 2026.

Manufacturing

  • Formed from serotonin (5-HT).

  • Melatonin is synthesized endogenously by the pinealocytes of the pineal gland. The essential amino acid L-tryptophan is a precursor in the synthesis of melatonin. In this synthesis, L-tryptophan first gets metabolized to 5-hydroxytryptophan from which 5-hydroxytryptamine, also known as serotonin, is made. 5-hydroxytryptamine is converted to melatonin in a two-step process, occurring mainly in the pineal gland.

PubChem : Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) · 2026-10-29 · Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. 4th ed. Volumes 1: New York, NY. John Wiley and Sons, 1991-Present., p. V16 1991 (1995); PDR for Nutritional Supplements 2nd ed. Thomson Reuters, Montvale, NJ 2008, p. 419.

Licence.

Appearance

  • Pale yellow leaflets from benzene

  • White-cream to yellowish crystalline powder

PubChem : Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) · 2026-10-29 · O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013., p. 1080; European Commission; Opinion on Melatonin, Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, SCCSEU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety: it assesses cosmetic ingredients./1315/10 (March 24, 2010); Available, as of Jan 21, 2014: https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_022.pdf.

Licence.

Associated research

ClinicalTrials.gov · A trial is not proof: it tests a hypothesis.

Searched on 1 November 2026.

Other names: melatonina (Spanish), melatonina (Italian), melatonina (Portuguese).

Wikidata: names of substances in six languages and taxa in which they occur (largely from the LOTUS database), retrieved 23 October 2026.

Same substance in cosmetics: MELATONIN.

In plain words

À quoi il sert, selon les fabricants

Objectifs les plus souvent annoncés pour les compléments qui en contiennent (Mélatonine) : sommeil (1741 produits), système nerveux (117 produits), humeur (52 produits), sport (22 produits), ménopause (19 produits).

Ce sont les objectifs déclarés par les fabricants à l'administration, pas des effets démontrés. Sur l'emballage, seules les allégations de santé autorisées par l'Union peuvent être écrites.

Compl'Alim, food supplement declarations (France), retrieved 23 October 2026.

What the registers say, country by country

Each line repeats what an official register says on the date it was consulted. Not being in a register means neither allowed nor banned.

Health claims register (European Union): 2 authorised and 1 refused claim(s) for this substance.

  • « Melatonin contributes to the alleviation of subjective feelings of jet lag »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which contains at least 0,5 mg of melatonin per quantified portion. In order to bear the claim, information shall be given to the consumer that the beneficial effect is obtained with a minimum intake of 0,5 mg to be taken close to bedtime on the first day of travel and on the following few days after arrival at the destination.
  • « Melatonin contributes to the reduction of time taken to fall asleep »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which contains 1 mg of melatonin per quantified portion. In order to bear the claim, information shall be given to the consumer that the beneficial effect is obtained by consuming 1 mg of melatonin close to bedtime.

EU Register of nutrition and health claims, retrieved 21 October 2026.

Compl'Alim ingredient list (France): listed.

Compl'Alim, reference list of ingredients, retrieved 21 October 2026.

Canada, licensed natural health products (LNHPD): 70 products.

Licensed Natural Health Products Database (LNHPD), Health Canada: licensed products, ingredients, doses, uses and risks, retrieved 27 October 2026.

Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada (Health Canada, LNHPD)

Licence du gouvernement ouvert – Canada 2.0 (OGL-Canada 2.0)

United States, supplement labels (DSLD; supplements need no prior approval): 1668 products.

Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD), US National Institutes of Health: current and off-market labels, retrieved 27 October 2026.

Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Dietary Supplement Label Database (CC0); US market labels.

Poland, notified supplements: 2 products.

GIS, products notified in Poland, retrieved 27 October 2026.

Główny Inspektorat Sanitarny (GIS), Rejestr produktów objętych powiadomieniem

CC BY 4.0

Declared daily quantities

Declared daily quantities: Mélatonine
UnitProductsMedianMinimumMaximum
mg6931.80.00141.9

Calculated from Compl'Alim declarations that provide a quantity. These are quantities declared by manufacturers, not measurements, and preparation is not distinguished (powder, extract of varying concentration): differences between products can be very large.

Official warnings (Health Canada)

MELATONIN - Oral

Cautions and warnings

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician before use if you are taking medications for seizure, blood pressure, to suppress the immune system, to affect mental state or increase sedation, steroids or blood thinners (Wirtz et al. 2008; IOM 2004; Herxheimer and Petrie 2002; Lusardi et al. 2000; Maestroni 1993).

5 studies cited in the text have no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician before use if you have cardiovascular, immune, liver or kidney disease, seizure disorder, asthma or diabetes (Peschke and Mühlbauer 2010; Carrillo-Vico et al. 2005; IOM 2004; der Marderosian and Beuttlers 2003; Sutherland et al. 2003; Calvo et al. 2002; Herxheimer and Petrie 2002; Sutherland et al. 2002; Cagnacci et al. 2001a; Arangino et al. 1999; Sheldon 1998; Maestroni 1993).

12 studies cited in the text have no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

When using this product avoid taking with alcohol or products that cause drowsiness (Herxheimer and Petrie 2002; Holliman and Chyka 1997).

2 studies cited in the text have no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

When using this product avoid driving or using machinery for 5 hours (Avery et al. 1998; Suhner et al. 1998b).

2 studies cited in the text have no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician if sleeplessness persists for more than 4 weeks (chronic insomnia) (Buscemi et al. 2004; IOM 2004; Dipiro et al. 2002).

3 studies cited in the text have no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

Contraindications

Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding (IOM 2004).

1 study cited in the text has no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

Known adverse reactions

Stop use if allergy occurs or if you experience headache, confusion, or nausea (Herxheimer and Petrie 2002).

1 study cited in the text has no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

Health Canada monograph dated 19 December 2025

MELATONIN - Sublingual

Cautions and warnings

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician before use if you are taking medications for seizure, blood pressure, to suppress the immune system, to affect mental state or increase sedation, steroids or blood thinners (Wirtz et al. 2008; IOM 2004; Herxheimer and Petrie 2002; Lusardi et al. 2000; Maestroni 1993).

5 studies cited in the text have no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician before use if you have a cardiovascular, immune, liver or kidney disease, seizure disorder, asthma or diabetes (Peschke and Mühlbauer 2010; Carrillo-Vico et al. 2005; IOM 2004; der Marderosian and Beuttlers 2003; Sutherland et al. 2003; Calvo et al. 2002; Herxheimer and Petrie 2002; Sutherland et al. 2002; Cagnacci et al. 2001a; Arangino et al. 1999; Sheldon 1998; Maestroni 1993).

12 studies cited in the text have no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

When using this product avoid taking with alcohol or products that cause drowsiness (Herxheimer and Petrie 2002; Holliman and Chyka 1997).

2 studies cited in the text have no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

When using this product avoid driving or using machinery for 5 hours (Avery et al. 1998; Suhner et al. 1998b).

2 studies cited in the text have no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician if sleeplessness persists for more than 4 weeks (chronic insomnia) (Buscemi et al. 2004; IOM 2004; Dipiro et al. 2002).

3 studies cited in the text have no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

Contraindications

Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding (IOM 2004).

1 study cited in the text has no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

Known adverse reactions

Stop use if allergy occurs or if you experience headache, confusion, or nausea (Herxheimer and Petrie 2002).

1 study cited in the text has no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

Health Canada monograph dated 19 December 2025

Texts from the monograph of Health Canada, the Canadian authority, reproduced without modification. They do not replace medical advice.

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