Loading...
Insomnia is an extremely frustrating problem for many older patients and their clinicians. In this randomized double-blind trial from Italy, researchers enrolled 43 residents (mean age, 78) of a long-term care facility; all met criteria for primary insomnia, and none had psychiatric diagnoses or dementia. Participants received either placebo or a nightly supplement that consisted of melatonin (5 mg), zinc (11.25 mg), and magnesium (225 mg). The authors' stated rationale for including zinc and magnesium was that previous research suggested these substances improve mood and enhance endogenous synthesis of melatonin. Previous clinical trials of melatonin alone for insomnia have yielded mixed results (JW Gen Med Feb 17 2004).
After 60 days of tr…