Effects of Melatonin on Dream Bizarreness Among Male and Female College Students

M elatonin, a hormone produced and secreted by the pineal gland, is involved in promoting sleep onset and in the synchronization of the circadian sleep/wake rhythm (1-4). A recent estimate puts the US retail market for melatonin at $200 million annually, according to Genzyme, a major manufacturer of synthetic melatonin (5). The pineal gland secretes more melatonin at night, in part because light suppresses melatonin production. For this reason, melatonin has been termed "the hormone of darkness" (6). Recent research has shown that a supplemental dose of synthetic melatonin can be useful in reducing sleep latency in chronic insomniacs (7) and in alleviating the symptoms of jet-lag (8). The potential benefits of exogenous melatonin in non-clinical populations are less well-established (9-11). In the popular literature, outrageous claims of the benefits of taking melatonin have ranged from its purported impact on numerous ailments such as cancer, heart disease and AIDS to its beneficial effects on aging, sex, and mood regulation (12-14). Additional anecdotal claims are that dreams become more vivid and bizarre while taking melatonin (14-16). However, systematic studies of melatonin s impact on dreaming variables have not yet been conducted.