CRN seeks to prevent sleepless nights with new melatonin guidelines

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Tuesday released new guidelines for the natural sleep aid melatonin, suggesting a daily regimen of no more than 10 mg. CRN is also advising that labeling include a call to consult a healthcare professional before long-term use, before giving to children and before use in pregnant or nursing women.   

 

“With the current popularity and wide usage of melatonin supplements for sleep support, CRN wanted to clarify responsible labeling and marketing practices for its member companies, and for the industry, by developing science-based voluntary guidelines to help ensure these products best serve consumers safely,” said Andrea Wong, VP scientific and regulatory affairs, CRN. “CRN encourages all dietary supplement manufacturers and marketers to follow these recommendations.”

 

In making its recommendations, CRN reviewed various dosages assessed in clinical studies, as well as by scientific and regulatory authorities such as the Institute of Medicine and Health Canada. 

 

CRN’s guidelines are based on the totality of the evidence available on melatonin for sleep support - melatonin for other purposes is outside the scope of these guidelines.

 

CRN recommends that dietary supplement companies comply no later than 12 months after the effective date of June 18, 2015. 

 

CRN’s recommended guidelines for melatonin are the latest in a series of proactive, science-based guidelines that the association has developed as part of its self-regulatory initiatives. CRN also has voluntary recommended guidelines for: iodine quantity in multivitamin/mineral supplements for pregnancy and lactation; caffeine-containing dietary supplements; and labeling of protein in dietary supplements and functional foods; as well as best practices for enzyme dietary supplement products and safety considerations for dosage recommendations and labeling.