Researchers looked at whether melatonin supplements would help with sleep difficulties for autistic people.
This research showed that some autistic people have reduced melatonin levels. Melatonin therapy comes from research that started in the 1990s. It might also help improve daytime behaviour in some autistic children. Melatonin is used to help autistic children who have sleep problems fall asleep quicker, sleep for longer and wake up fewer times in the night. It can also be used to help with sleep problems in children, including autistic children. Melatonin is used to help people who have trouble sleeping – for example, because of jet lag or shift work. Your circadian rhythm helps to control when you fall asleep, how long you sleep and when you wake up.
Melatonin maintains your circadian rhythm, which is your internal 24-hour clock. Your body produces more melatonin when it’s dark and less when it’s light. Melatonin is a hormone that’s produced in the brain.
