Currently under investigation is the use of melatonin,
available as an OTC dietary supplement, to treat insomnia,
jet lag, and sleep problems in shift workers.
Preliminary findings suggest that melatonin is useful in treating sleep disturbance
in elderly patients by augmenting their natural but
diminished production of this hormone.
In studies that compared
exogenous melatonin use with placebo, groups receiving
melatonin fell asleep more quickly, had a better quality
and duration of sleep, and maintained alertness the next day.