Overview
- A pooled analysis published in the journal PAIN combined 23 randomized trials and 2,028 adults, and the study was released in late June 2026.
- On average the supplement reduced pain by about 9 to 10 points on a 0–100 scale, a change the authors say is similar in magnitude to reductions seen in trials of NSAIDs, paracetamol and some opioids.
- Dosing, timing and patient groups varied across trials with typical chronic musculoskeletal doses of 3–10 mg taken at bedtime and no clear dose‑response identified.
- Across the short‑term trials melatonin was generally well tolerated, with mild side effects such as nausea, dizziness and headache and overall adverse event rates similar to placebo.
- The authors and reporters note practical limits: melatonin’s regulatory status and product quality differ by country, researchers urge patients to consult clinicians, and they call for larger, condition‑specific trials to guide wider use.