Stay Well: Would taking melatonin improve my sleep quality?

Experts explain the pros and cons of melatonin supplements Melatonin supplements can be useful for adults in the short term. Picture: Getty It’s easy to confuse melatonin (a hormone linked to sleep) with melanin (a pigment responsible for skin tone), but apart from sounding similar, they’re not related. In recent years we have been hearing more about melatonin in relation to sleep-related problems and also as a way of outsmarting jet lag.

It is made within the body, but if you are having sleep issues, you can take a synthetic supplement over a short period of time, which will add to your body’s natural supply, and help you fall asleep and stay asleep. It’s prescription only, and is usually taken one to two hours before you want to go to sleep..