About the product
HSN's EssentialSeries Melatonin 1.9 mg is a food supplement in immediate-release vegetable tablets based on pure melatonin, at the highest concentration permitted by European regulations for food supplements (European regulations limit melatonin in food supplements to less than 2 mg per daily dose). Each tablet provides 1.9 mg of pure melatonin, at the dose that EFSA recognises as effective for reducing the time it takes to fall asleep (≥1 mg/day) and for alleviating the subjective feeling of jet lag (≥0.5 mg/day). The formula adopts an extreme clean label approach: the only excipient used is microcrystalline cellulose (necessary to compress the tablet), with no colourings, no flavourings, no glazing agents, and no aesthetic additives whatsoever. Take 1 tablet 30 minutes before bedtime. Vegan, gluten-free, GMO-free, allergen-free. Available in 30, 60, 120, and 240 tablets.
Benefits
Melatonin: the neurohormone of the circadian cycle with approved EFSA health claims: Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an endogenous neurohormone produced by the pineal gland (epiphysis), in the brain, from serotonin through a two-step enzymatic process (N-acetylation by arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase, followed by methylation by hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase). Its production is regulated by the light/dark cycle perceived by retinal photoreceptors and transmitted to the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus (the body's central "biological clock"). Under normal conditions, melatonin production increases exponentially at dusk, peaks between 2 and 4 am, and gradually decreases until dawn. This circadian pattern of secretion is the main hormonal signal that synchronises internal biological rhythms with the environmental day/night cycle. EFSA has approved two health claims for melatonin: melatonin contributes to reducing the time it takes to fall asleep (effect obtained with an intake of 1 mg, taken close to bedtime) and melatonin helps alleviate the subjective feeling of jet lag (effect obtained with a minimum intake of 0.5 mg, taken close to bedtime on the first day of travel and on subsequent days after arrival at the destination).
Circadian disruption in modern lifestyles: why endogenous melatonin is often insufficient: Contemporary lifestyles are marked by multiple factors that suppress or disrupt endogenous melatonin production: nocturnal exposure to blue light from screens (mobile phones, computers, televisions) directly inhibits melatonin production by stimulating retinal photoreceptors as if it were sunlight; irregular sleep schedules (shift work, night shifts, frequent travel); caffeine consumption (which blocks adenosine receptors that promote sleep and delays nocturnal melatonin production); and ageing (melatonin production progressively decreases with age, often being significantly reduced in adults over 50 to 60 years old). In all these contexts, exogenous melatonin supplementation can compensate for endogenous insufficiency and restore the quality of the circadian signal.
Immediate release: the most studied and direct-acting format to induce sleep: Immediate-release melatonin has an absorption and release curve that replicates the pattern of a rapid increase in endogenous melatonin at dusk, making it particularly effective for the purpose of reducing the time it takes to fall asleep. After oral administration, immediate-release melatonin reaches peak plasma levels in 20 to 30 minutes and is biologically relevant (at concentrations that activate MT1 and MT2 receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and pineal gland) for 1 to 3 hours after intake. This pharmacokinetic profile is well compatible with taking it 30 minutes before the intended bedtime. Immediate-release melatonin is also the form of melatonin most commonly used in reference clinical trials, with the meta-analysis by Li et al. (2019) published in Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology (9 studies, 1,683 participants) documenting a significant reduction in sleep onset latency, an increase in total sleep duration, and an improvement in subjective sleep quality.
1.9 mg: the maximum permitted dose for food supplements, documented as effective: European regulations state that melatonin-based food supplements should not contain more than 2 mg of melatonin per daily dose. HSN has formulated its product at a dose of 1.9 mg, which is immediately below this regulatory limit, ensuring the user the maximum concentration available in this product category without exceeding the safety limits established by European regulatory authorities. This dose is substantially higher than the minimum effective dose (1 mg) for reducing the time it takes to fall asleep recognised by EFSA, and much higher than the minimum effective dose (0.5 mg) for alleviating jet lag.
Extreme clean label: microcrystalline cellulose as the sole excipient: Most melatonin supplements available on the market contain multiple unnecessary additives: coloured glazing agents, dyes to opacify capsules, artificial flavourings, various types of anti-caking agents, and often combinations of vitamins (B6, B12) which, while not harmful, are not necessary for melatonin's efficacy and unnecessarily lengthen the ingredient list. HSN's product contains only melatonin + microcrystalline cellulose, nothing else. This simplicity guarantees complete transparency and eliminates any possible interaction with other unnecessary compounds.
Mechanism of action: activation of MT1 and MT2 receptors in the central nervous system: Melatonin exerts its effects on sleep and circadian rhythms primarily through the activation of melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2 (Gi protein-coupled receptors), which are highly expressed in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (the central biological clock) and the pineal gland. Activation of MT1 receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus inhibits neuronal activity, reducing wakefulness and promoting sleep onset. Activation of MT2 receptors regulates circadian timing (the phase angle of the circadian rhythm), which is the mechanism by which melatonin adjusts the biological clock to new time zones (anti-jet lag). Melatonin is not a sedative in the conventional pharmacological sense (it does not act on GABA receptors like benzodiazepines), but rather a hormonal regulator of the circadian rhythm that prepares the body for sleep in a physiological way.
Documented safety and absence of dependence or tolerance: Unlike sleep-inducing drugs (benzodiazepines, z-drugs like zolpidem), melatonin does not cause physical dependence, does not induce tolerance with continuous use, has no residual sedative effect the next morning (at a dose of 1.9 mg), and does not interfere with the physiological architecture of sleep (it does not suppress REM sleep). It is one of the supplements with the highest documented safety profile for long-term daily use, including in elderly populations, and does not require withdrawal periods when use is discontinued.
Uses
Recommended dosage: Take 1 tablet per day, 30 minutes before bedtime. For jet lag, take 1 tablet close to bedtime on the first day of travel and on subsequent days after arrival at the destination, at local bedtime.
