During the retreat for mental health workers, one of the most common questions during the Complementary & Alternative Medicine presentation/workshop was...
Answer:
CHILDREN: POSSIBLY UNSAFE ...when used orally or parenterally. Melatonin has been used with apparent safety in short-term clinical trials in a small number of children. However, there is concern that melatonin supplementation has the potential to adversely affect children. Young people up to the age of 20 years produce melatonin endogenously in high levels. Melatonin levels are inversely related to gonadal development. Theoretically, exogenously administered melatonin might adversely affect gonadal development; use with caution. Efficacy and safety for longer than 4 weeks has not been evaluated.
References:
1. Natural Medicine - Comprehensive Database
2. http://www.bestbets.org/bets/bet.php?id=1749
3. http://www.nyrdtc.nhs.uk/docs/dud/DU_44_melatonin_a.pdf
