Does melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) increase slow-wave sleep (deep sleep)?

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From the Research

Melatonin and Slow-Wave Sleep

  • The effect of melatonin on slow-wave sleep (deep sleep) is not directly addressed in the provided studies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
  • However, study 3 found that melatonin supplementation significantly decreased the percentage of N2 sleep, but had no significant effect on the percentage of N3 sleep, which is also known as slow-wave sleep.
  • Study 1 suggests that melatonin may benefit sleep by correcting circadian phase abnormalities and/or by a modest direct soporific effect, but does not specifically address slow-wave sleep.
  • Studies 2, 4, 5 discuss the effects of melatonin on REM sleep, sleep quality, and circadian rhythms, but do not provide direct evidence on its impact on slow-wave sleep.

Limitations of Current Evidence

  • The current evidence does not provide a clear answer to the question of whether melatonin increases slow-wave sleep.
  • More research is needed to fully understand the effects of melatonin on slow-wave sleep and its potential therapeutic applications.

References

2
Research

Melatonin in patients with reduced REM sleep duration: two randomized controlled trials.

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2004

4
Research

A review of sleep disorders and melatonin.

Neurological research, 2017

5
Research

Melatonergic drugs in development.

Clinical pharmacology : advances and applications, 2014

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