Melatonin and COVID

What Is Melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone released by the human brain Trusted Source Merck Manual First published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, the Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers. View Source that makes people feel sleepy Trusted Source National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Blog The NIGMS supports basic research that increases our understanding of biological processes and lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. View Source . Melatonin is involved in circadian rhythm, the internal process that helps people fall asleep at night and wake up during the day.

While the brain naturally makes melatonin, it is also sold over the counter Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source as a dietary supplement in the U.S. In the European Union and some other countries, melatonin is only available with a prescription.

Melatonin supplements may be used as sleep aids for people with jet lag, insomnia, or other sleep disorders. Studies have found that taking melatonin at bedtime helps people with jet lag feel more alert during the day and adjust to their new time zone more quickly Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source . In addition, melatonin may help people with insomnia fall asleep faster and sleep longer.

Can Melatonin Prevent COVID-19?

There is no scientific evidence that melatonin supplements can help prevent a COVID-19 infection. Additionally, U.S. guidelines for COVID-19 prevention Trusted Source National Institutes of Health (NIH) The NIH, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency — making important discoveries that improve health and save lives. View Source do not address the use of melatonin supplements.

The National Institutes for Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that Americans take the following steps to prevent COVID-19 infection:

• Get a complete COVID-19 vaccine series and booster Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. View Source , if eligible
• Frequently wash hands
• Use high-quality ventilation and air filters in indoor spaces
• Socialize outdoors when possible
• Avoid contact with people who have or may have COVID-19

The CDC also recommends that people wear masks or respirators outside their homes and maintain social distancing if they live in communities with medium or high levels of COVID-19.

Individuals with weak immune systems or who cannot receive COVID-19 vaccines due to medical reasons should talk to their doctors about whether they are also eligible for pre-exposure prevention shots Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. View Source .

How Does Sleep Affect Immunity?

Sleep is important for a healthy immune system, in part by helping to keep cortisol levels and the sympathetic nervous system in balance. Cortisol is often referred to as the stress hormone and has many effects on the body, including reducing inflammation. Similarly, the sympathetic nervous system affects the immune system Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source and other body functions.

Sleep deprivation weakens the immune system in several ways. Researchers have found that people have lower levels of natural killer (NK) cells after losing a substantial amount of sleep and that existing NK cells are less able to fight disease Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . NK cells are white blood cells Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source that kill cells infected with viruses and other germs. People with low levels of functional NK cells are at high risk of viral infection.

People who are sleep deprived also have higher levels Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. View Source of cytokines. Cytokines are proteins that encourage inflammation. High levels of cytokines in people with COVID-19 have been linked to worse health outcomes . In fact, some people with COVID-19 develop an unusually strong and potentially life-threatening condition involving inflammation with high levels of cytokines and high fevers, called a cytokine storm.

Available research suggests that sleep-deprived people may be at higher risk of infections. For example, sleep-deprived people develop fewer antibodies in response to the influenza vaccine compared to fully-rested people. In addition, people who sleep less than seven hours may be more likely to develop the common cold after being exposed to a cold-causing virus.

Does Melatonin Help COVID-19 Symptoms?

Current guidelines for treating COVID-19 do not include melatonin. However, some experts have suggested that melatonin might be helpful as a supportive treatment Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source in people with COVID-19. Melatonin does not directly kill or weaken Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source the virus that causes COVID-19, but it might address some of the virus’s effects on the body.

Many people struggle with sleep difficulties after recovering from COVID-19. Studies have found that difficulty sleeping is one of the most common symptoms Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source of “long COVID.” Up to one in four people hospitalized with COVID-19 may still have sleep disturbances six months after their hospitalization. As melatonin may be used to treat insomnia, people with lingering sleep difficulties after a COVID-19 infection can discuss the use of melatonin with their doctor.

In addition to its effects on sleep, melatonin reduces inflammation. Some experts suspect that melatonin could help reduce the cytokine storm Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source that occurs in some severe cases of COVID-19. Melatonin also has antioxidant effects that may prevent damage to cells and help hearts and lungs to heal after injury.

There are currently few high-quality studies of the effectiveness of melatonin as a treatment for COVID-19. However, research to date suggests that people with COVID-19 who are given melatonin in addition to standard COVID-19 treatment may recover more quickly Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , have fewer blood clots Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , and may be less likely to die than those with standard treatment alone. Studies in animals have also found that melatonin reduces the severity of several viral infections.

While these studies are promising, additional research is needed to find out whether melatonin is safe and effective for treating COVID-19. Until that time, people infected with COVID-19 should not take melatonin as a treatment without first speaking with their doctor. Furthermore, melatonin should not be taken in place Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source of medications prescribed by a doctor.

Does COVID-19 Affect Melatonin?

Experts don’t yet know whether COVID-19 infection has the same effect on naturally-occurring melatonin levels. It is clear that other viral infections, such as influenza, turn off or use up genes and proteins that are needed for the body to make melatonin. This results in lower levels of melatonin being released during certain viral infections.

Does Melatonin Interact with the COVID-19 Vaccine?

There are no known interactions between melatonin supplements and COVID-19 vaccines. There are only two known contraindications to the COVID-19 vaccine:

• An allergic reaction to a previous vaccine that included components also present in the COVID-19 vaccine
• A history of blood clotting or low platelet counts after a previous COVID-19 vaccine

Are There Health Risks to Taking Melatonin?

Medical experts haven’t fully determined the health risks of taking melatonin supplements. However, available evidence suggests that melatonin is probably safe for short-term use in most healthy adults, and may be safe to take for up to two years.

The most common side effects of melatonin supplements include:

• Daytime tiredness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Realistic dreams and nightmares
• Irritability
• Temporary feelings of depression
• Nausea
• Stomach cramps

There are special concerns about melatonin use in children and other groups of people. People with diabetes, depression, bleeding disorders, or seizure disorders should speak with their doctors before taking melatonin supplements. Additionally, people who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding should discuss melatonin use with their doctor.

Melatonin may interact with some prescription medications. People taking any of the following medications should speak with their doctors before taking melatonin:

• Blood pressure medicine
• Medicine to weaken the immune system
• Blood thinners

Finally, it’s important to remember that melatonin supplements are not regulated Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means that melatonin supplements may contain melatonin levels that are much higher or lower than what is listed on the label.