Eating this instead of lettuce makes you sleepy? The trending plant-based melatonin these days

There is a saying that "Eating a lot of lettuce makes you sleepy." This is due to the sedative effects of compounds such as lactucarium contained in lettuce. Recently, products processed from plant-based melatonin extracted from not lettuce but pistachios, tomatoes, and other sources have been continuously released and are gaining popularity.

 

Melatonin is 

 

Hormones secreted from the pituitary gland play a role in inducing sleep. Interestingly, when the sun sets, the body secretes melatonin to promote sleep, and when the sun rises, secretion stops. Our body produces melatonin through exposure to sunlight, releasing it at night. Through this principle, melatonin is also used as a treatment to address sleep-related problems.

 

Synthetic melatonin used for treatment is classified as a prescription drug in Korea. In countries like the United States, it can be purchased as a dietary supplement by anyone, but in Korea, it can only be taken through a prescription.

 

Recently, melatonin extracted from plants rather than synthetic pharmaceuticals has appeared, allowing people in the country to purchase melatonin as a general food product online and at pharmacies.

 

 

Currently, plant-based melatonin products classified as processed foods and beverages in Korea contain up to 2 mg of melatonin. The plant-based melatonin raw materials used domestically include pistachio extract, stone fruit tomato extract (SOMATO), and chlorella extract.

 

Pistachio extract is the most commonly used, and it is differentiated by adding seaweed extract, tart cherry, L-theanine, and lettuce extract powder. Stone fruit is a type of tomato variety that contains a large amount of melatonin, which is rarely found in regular tomatoes. The extracted component from here, 'Somato,' was introduced as a new material at a North American food expo last year and drew attention.

 

 

Consumers are increasingly curious about the effects of synthetic melatonin, a prescription drug, and plant-based melatonin, a general food product.

 

Joo Kyung-mi, Director of the Pharmacist Research Center (Special Professor at Korea University College of Pharmacy), explained, "According to research at the European Lublin Medical University, both plant-based melatonin and synthetic melatonin have similar sleep-improving effects, and plant-based melatonin has been reported to exhibit higher efficacy in inhibiting COX-2 enzyme activity that induces inflammation, as well as in scavenging reactive oxygen species (DPPH) and in antioxidant oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC)."

 

However, plant-based melatonin should not be consumed for treatment purposes. Additionally, products that advertise in a way that could be mistaken for pharmaceuticals should be filtered out. A representative from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety explained, "Advertising claims that suggest efficacy in treating specific diseases such as insomnia, or including certain pharmaceutical ingredients in the product name, violate the Food Labeling and Advertising Act."

 

If you have personal health conditions or are taking medication, consulting with your primary care physician or pharmacist is necessary before taking plant-based melatonin. This is because the method of intake may vary depending on the purpose of taking melatonin and the expected effects.

 

Research Center Director Joo Kyung-mi stated, "For example, some people who take sleeping pills also consume plant-based melatonin to regulate their circadian rhythms, and in cases where chronic disease management involves medication that can cause sleep disturbances, they also take plant-based melatonin for assistance."

 

Therefore, while plant-based melatonin is easily accessible, it is advisable to consult a professional before taking it, considering your health condition and interactions with medications you are taking.