Melatonin - wonder sleeping pill, or a potentially dangerous substance for a small segment of the population?

It appears that melatonin may have severe adverse reactions with
vitamin c, other antioxidants or calcium, for a very few people.

Melatonin, combined with calcium may overstimulate the immune response, creating problems for people with highly active immune systems.

Melatonin, combined with antioxidants, especially vitamin C, may convert other antioxidants into pro-oxidants, and in turn increase formation of free radicals.

Wiki is the source, and is sometimes unreliable

Can anyone provide information or legitimate research links about side effects of melatonin? In the small studies cited by wiki, few people were adversely affected, but they were affected rather badly.

The same article also claims it may be therapeutic for fighting cancer, aging, parkinson's, alzheimer's, and even HIV, which further raises my concerns about the objectivity or veracity of the article, I am not fluent in medical research language.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin#_...

I have taken melatonin, and remember when they added B-6 to it for some reason. Just as I was about to take 3mg with my daily vitamins and minerals, something reminded me that I had heard negative things about it, so I ran to Wiki, which I view only as a starting point for research.

I felt melatonin was a lifesaver after they shut down l-tryptophan.

But I am developing problems that may be linked to a grossly overactive immune system.

I take melatonin regularly. I have no problems but i will look into it Thanks!

I wish I had returned in time to resolve this. It has NOT been approved by the FDA. It is a supplement and is not subject to examination. Within the past few years, it had become difficult to find 3 mg, and usually available in 300 mcg, 1/10 the previous amount. Report It

I can ONLY find it in 3 mg. I am looking for 1mg. Never seen 300 mcg. Report It

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in the body secreted by the pineal gland. I would say that provided a moderate dose was used it should not be harmful. Unfortunately in the UK melatonin is prescription only and only tends to be initiated by specialists for treatment such as ADHD and during periods of intense trauma (i.e. in intensive care) so it is very difficult for us to get experience of its use in practice. The fact that it has been approved by the FDA shows the vigorous testing it should have already gone through.