Research background · Updated November 1, 2026
Melatonin Research: Publications, Study Types and Background
Short answer
Melatonin. As of November 1, 2026, PubMed indexes 23,894 records matching Melatonin, the earliest from 1958; 5,852 were published in 2021–2025 and 2,985 are reviews. ClinicalTrials.gov lists 1,104 registered studies matching the compound.
- PubMed records
- 23,894
- Earliest record
- 1958
- Published 2021–2025
- 5,852
- Reviews
- 2,985
- Animal-only studies
- 10,226
- Registered studies
- 1,104
Publications per year, 2006–2025
11,068 records in 2016–2025 against 6,028 in 2006–2015; the busiest year was 2022, with 1,345.
See the numbers
| Year | PubMed records |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 544 |
| 2007 | 495 |
| 2008 | 529 |
| 2009 | 508 |
| 2010 | 549 |
| 2011 | 599 |
| 2012 | 629 |
| 2013 | 664 |
| 2014 | 770 |
| 2015 | 741 |
| 2016 | 767 |
| 2017 | 824 |
| 2018 | 912 |
| 2019 | 1,013 |
| 2020 | 1,173 |
| 2021 | 1,287 |
| 2022 | 1,345 |
| 2023 | 1,206 |
| 2024 | 1,248 |
| 2025 | 1,293 |
Study types
| All PubMed records | 23,894 |
|---|---|
| Reviews | 2,98512% |
| Animal studies (no human subjects indexed) | 10,22643% |
| Indexed as clinical trials | 1,2725% |
| Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov | 1,104 |
Categories overlap and follow PubMed’s own indexing; recent records may not be indexed yet.
Primary research directions
What 3 of the most-cited and most recent Melatonin papers report, in their own authors’ terms. Each line links the paper it came from.
Synthesis and circadian rhythm
This review describes melatonin as a methoxyindole made and secreted mainly by the pineal gland at night, whose daily secretion is a robust marker of circadian timing, and notes limited evidence for seasonal effects in humans in temperate regions.
ReviewClaustrat B 2015Neuro-ChirurgiePMID 25908646
Sleep-wake regulation
This review describes melatonin as the main hormone involved in controlling the sleep-wake cycle and covers its physiology and pharmaceutical preparations, noting that suitable preparations are not yet clearly defined.
ReviewPoza JJ 2022NeurologiaPMID 36064286
Safety profile in studies
This review of human studies reports that exogenous melatonin caused only mild adverse effects comparable to placebo in the studies reviewed, and that long-term safety in children and adolescents still requires investigation.
ReviewAndersen LP 2016Clinical drug investigationPMID 26692007
Most-studied topics
The Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) PubMed indexers most often marked as a main topic, across 400 of the 23,894 records. They describe what the literature is about, not what Melatonin does.
- Melatonin344 papers
- Antioxidants38 papers
- Circadian Rhythm36 papers
- Pineal Gland20 papers
- Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders17 papers
- Sleep17 papers
- Receptors, Melatonin17 papers
- Receptors, Cell Surface13 papers
Key papers
Earliest indexed record
ALBERTI C (1958). Il Farmaco; edizione scientifica.
PMID 13574220Most-cited paper · 1,008 citations
Brzezinski A (1997). The New England journal of medicine.
PMID 8988899Most-cited #2 · 681 citations
Reiter RJ (1995). Journal of pineal research.
PMID 7776173Most-cited #3 · 567 citations
Allegra M (2003). Journal of pineal research.
PMID 12485365
Citation counts from NIH iCite, among the 400 records sampled. Titles are left out; open each record on PubMed to read it.
Identity
| CAS | 73-31-4 |
|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C13H16N2O2 |
| Molecular weight | 232.28 g/mol |
| Synonyms | Melatonin, Melatonine, N-Acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, Circadin, 5-Methoxy-N-acetyltryptamine |
Identity data from PubChem, retrieved November 1, 2026, on the Melatonin page.
How these numbers were counted
- PubMed search, run November 1, 2026:
melatonin[ti]re-run it. Study types add PubMed’s own filters (review, clinical trial, animals not humans). - Topics: MeSH major-topic headings counted across up to 400 of the matching records; headings for study set-up (species, sex, age) are left out.
- Citations: NIH iCite citation counts for the same records.
- ClinicalTrials.gov search:
melatoninre-run it. Any phase, any status.
This page reports what has been published and what papers say they found, with each source linked. It gives no dosing or usage information, and nothing here is a reason to use Melatonin outside a laboratory.
Wholesale supply
Melatonin, sourced to order for research.
Not held in the listed catalog. Tell us the vial size and the number of vials and we come back with availability, documentation and pricing in writing.
Melatonin research questions
How much research has been published on Melatonin?
PubMed indexes 23,894 records matching Melatonin (searched November 1, 2026), including 2,985 reviews and 1,272 records indexed as clinical trials. 5,852 were published in the five years 2021–2025.
When was Melatonin first described in the literature?
The earliest PubMed record matching Melatonin is from 1958 (ALBERTI C, Il Farmaco; edizione scientifica, PMID 13574220).
What topics does the Melatonin literature cover?
The subject headings PubMed indexers most often marked as a main topic of Melatonin papers are Melatonin, Antioxidants, Circadian Rhythm, Pineal Gland. These describe what the literature is about. Findings from individual papers, with their sources, are summarized on this page.
Is Melatonin sold for human use?
No. Vanta Foundry supplies it for laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use, and not a drug, food, cosmetic or dietary supplement.
Where can I buy Melatonin wholesale for research?
We source Melatonin to order rather than stock it. Tell us the vial size and number of vials on WhatsApp or by email and the quote confirms availability, documentation and pricing.
Research materials supplied by Vanta Foundry are for laboratory research use only. They are not for human or veterinary use and are not drugs, foods, cosmetics or dietary supplements. Websites and payment processing are business services for research-supply brands.
All compounds: research peptide publication statistics.