logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2025
28m 6s

Is it safe to give kids melatonin?

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode

More and more parents are using melatonin to help their children sleep - but there is little research on the long-term effects.

So, what do we know about the risks and is it ok to give it to children as an aid to help sleep?

James chats to Paul Gringras, professor of children’s sleep medicine and neurodisability at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Vicki Beevers, chief executive of The Sleep Charity.

Also this week, resident GP Margaret McCartney on the potential promise - and peril - of doctors using AI in the NHS, and should you eat your placenta? We hear from a dietician on whether there’s any evidence it’s good for you.

Presenter: James Gallagher Producers: Tom Bonnett, Debbie Kilbride & Gerry Holt Editor: Ilan Goodman Production coordinator: Ishmael Soriano

This episode was produced in partnership with The Open University.

Up next
Nov 3
How well will new endometriosis tests work?
Women with endometriosis often spend years searching for answers. On average, it can take around a decade to get a diagnosis. So could a new generation of tests, which are far less invasive than what's available today, help cut that wait from years to days? Inside Health is looki ... Show More
28m 28s
Oct 27
How self-injecting culture is bringing new dangers
We investigate how self-injecting is leading to people being hospitalised and is creating new challenges for support services.Laura Foster meets NHS endocrinologist Dr Bonnie Grant, criminologist at the University of Lincoln Dr Luke Turnock and Jon Findlay, Harm Reduction Lead at ... Show More
27m 45s
Oct 20
Can full body MRI scans be good for our health?
We investigate the growing business of full-body MRI scans. The clinics argue they can spot diseases and problems early before people feel unwell - but critics say it’s a waste of thousands of pounds and creates unnecessary anxiety about things that may never become a problem. La ... Show More
28m 11s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2023
The melatonin factor
In the fifth and final class of our course on how to get better sleep, we focus on melatonin. Researchers found that melatonin use in the United States more than quintupled between 1999 and 2018. You might know someone who swears by melatonin or maybe you yourself do. But does it ... Show More
13m 32s
Feb 2024
47. The Game Changer of Kids Sleep
We all struggle to find that balance of good sleep for our kids. Sometimes we just need to do our best on very little sleep, but there are some things we can do to create a positive sleeping environment for our kids - as well as mom and dad! If you're in the middle of raising you ... Show More
36m 24s
Apr 2024
Season 1 – Episode 4: Melatonin – the night time hormone
Have you ever wondered why most people lean towards dark bedrooms for a good night's sleep? How light at night can affect our sleep is the focus of this episode of Light O’Clock. Dr. Elise McGlashan, an expert from the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, joins us to discu ... Show More
25m 55s
Jul 2023
Sleep and Supplements
Each year, Americans spend an estimated $64 billion on sleep supplements. In this episode, Katie and Adam ask Danielle LaFata, Director of Performance Nutrition for the NBA's Phoenix Suns and renowned sleep specialist Dr. W. Chris Winter to unravel the science behind popular slee ... Show More
30m 34s
Sep 2024
Sleep-training: What the evidence does or doesn't say
There is a lot of division and polarizing views when it comes to sleep and things like sleep-training. Sleep training is not a necessity; but many families want to approach it and want to know what the evidence does or doesn’t show. I welcome Sujay Kansagra who is a pediatric neu ... Show More
44m 2s
Sep 2024
Can magnesium help you sleep?
TikTok users claim that drinking the "sleepy girl mocktail," a mixture of magnesium powder, tart cherry juice and other ingredients, can help you sleep. But does it really work? NPR's health correspondent Maria Godoy brings us the science behind the trend – and magnesium's effect ... Show More
10m 32s
Jul 2021
Melatonin's Magic on Your Hormones - With Dr. John Lieurance
// R E A D Y • S E T • R E S E T This episode is all about melatonin. So many people have trouble sleeping. You will learn that melatonin is far more significant than the nutrient you need for a good night's sleep. Dr. John Lieurance is a Naturopath & Chiropractic Neurologist and ... Show More
58m 59s
Dec 2024
Questions on Melatonin
<p>This episode contains short-answer questions on melatonin.<br/><br/>Written notes can be found at <a href='https://zerotofinals.com/physiology/endocrine/melatonin/'>https://zerotofinals.com/physiology/endocrine/melatonin/</a> or in the Zero to Finals Endocrine System book.<br/ ... Show More
4m 5s