Higher dose of melatonin improved sleep in older adults

Good news! Insomnia go away! However, 5mg of melatonin seems to be an awfully low amount. Each of my current over the counter tablets contains 10mg.

"Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital conducted the study in 24 healthy, older adults to evaluate whether a high-dose or a low-dose melatonin supplement could improve sleep. The team found that the higher dose had a significant impact, increasing total sleep time compared to placebo by more than 15 minutes for nighttime sleep and by half an hour for daytime sleep. ..."

From the abstract:

"Aging is associated with changes in sleep, and improving sleep may have important consequences for the health, cognition, and quality of life of older adults. Many prescription sleep aids increase the risk of nighttime falls, have adverse effects on next-day cognition, and are associated with increased mortality. Melatonin, a hormone secreted at night, increases sleep duration in young adults but only when administered during the day when endogenous levels are low. In a month-long cross-over study, we randomized 24 healthy older (age >55, mean 64.2 ± 6.3 years) participants to receive 2 weeks of placebo and 2 weeks of either a low (0.3 mg) or high (5.0 mg) dose of melatonin 30 min before lights out. Sleep was polysomnographically recorded and was scheduled during both the biological day and night using a forced desynchrony design. ... In contrast, 5 mg melatonin significantly increased SE during both biological day and night, mainly by increasing the duration of Stage 2 non-rapid eye movement sleep and slightly shortening awakenings. ...."

Higher dose of melatonin improved sleep in older adults – Harvard Gazette In a small study of healthy adults aged 55 and older, 5 mg of melatonin increased total sleep time compared to a placebo.

High dose melatonin increases sleep duration during nighttime and daytime sleep episodes in older adults (no public access)

Study reveals gut’s role in causing death by sleep deprivation

Great news! At least for those who are afflicted with something like chronic sleep deprivation or similar! Apparently, it took decades for this discovery. The negative health effects of prolonged sleep deprivation are devastating!
It appears as if this condition now can be easily diagnosed and treated!
Melatonin might even be a remedy!

"In a study on sleep-deprived fruit flies, published in Cell on June 4, researchers found that death is always preceded by the accumulation of molecules known as reactive oxidative species (ROS) in the gut. ... The guts of sleep-deprived flies had a dramatic buildup of ROS — highly reactive, oxygen-containing molecules that in large amounts can damage DNA and other components within cells, leading to cell death. The accumulation of ROS peaked around day 10 of sleep deprivation, and when deprivation was stopped, ROS levels decreased. ... They tested dozens of compounds with antioxidant properties known to neutralize ROS and identified 11 that, when given as a food supplement, allowed sleep-deprived flies to have a normal or near-normal lifespan. These compounds, such as melatonin, lipoic acid and NAD, were particularly effective at clearing ROS from the gut."

Study reveals gut’s role in causing death by sleep deprivation – Harvard Gazette Fruit fly study reveals gut’s role in causing death by sleep deprivation