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. 2024 Oct;32(10):102166.
doi: 10.1016/j.jsps.2024.102166. Epub 2024 Aug 26.

Prevalence and patterns of sleep-related melatonin usage among adults in Saudi Arabia: A self-reported cross-sectional national study

Yousef D Alqurashi  1 , Mohammed Alhaddad  2 , Amar Albahrani  2 , Ali Alfajri  2 , Ahmed Abdulwahab  2 , Hussain Albahrani  2 , Abdullah Alhajri  2 , Saad Alshareef  3 , Sulaiman S Alsaif  4   5 , Khalid AlHarkan  6 , Michael I Polkey  5   7
Affiliations

Prevalence and patterns of sleep-related melatonin usage among adults in Saudi Arabia: A self-reported cross-sectional national study

Yousef D Alqurashi et al. Saudi Pharm J. 2024 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose: Despite the surge of melatonin supplement consumption in recent years, data on the prevalence and patterns of melatonin usage in Saudi Arabia is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and pattern of sleep-related melatonin usage among adults in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, web-based, self-administered survey study conducted across all regions of Saudi Arabia. Participants were recruited from the general population (≥18 years). The survey was distributed between February and April 2023. Chi-squared tests and t-tests were performed for comparative bivariate analyses where binary logistic regression was performed to derive the main predictors of melatonin consumption.

Results: Out of 5,606 participants, 536 (10 %) were consumers of melatonin. Older age (Adjusted OR = 1.01, 95 % CI = 1.01-1.02, p = 0.002), being a male (Adjusted OR = 1.76, 95 % CI = 1.46-2.14, p = 0.001), individuals with a doctorate degree or an equivalent (adjusted OR 2.37 95 % CI = 1.35-4.17, p = 0.003), perceived poor sleep quality (Adjusted OR = 1.52, 95 % CI = 1.10-2.11, p = 0.01), and being diagnosed with a sleep disorder (Adjusted OR = 2.55, 95 % CI = 2.04-3.18, p = 0.001) were all associated with increased likelihood of sleep-related melatonin usage. 35 % of consumers self-reported taking ≥1 tablet per day, while 26 % of them were uncertain about the dosage they consume.

Conclusion: With a notable prevalence of 10% among the general population in Saudi Arabia, melatonin usage was more common in older adults, males, and those with higher education.

Keywords: Melatonin; Sleep; Sleep aids; Sleep disorders.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Self-reported frequency of melatonin usage among the survey participants.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Self-reported time of intake of melatonin before sleep among the survey participants.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Self-reported dosage of the melatonin consumed by the survey participants.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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