Current Evidence on Common Dietary Supplements for Sleep Quality

Poor sleep quality impacts nearly 70 million adults in the United States, resulting in nearly 1 in 5 adults regularly utilizing some sleep aid, either prescription or over-the-counter. Common dietary supplements utilized to improve sleep quality include nitrates, melatonin, magnesium, zinc, vitamin D, and L-theanine. While underlying physiologic mechanisms support the potential impact these compounds have on sleep quality, evidence from clinical trials varies widely. Melatonin and magnesium are two of the more widely researched supplements, which have numerous studies, with conflicting results. Other compounds such as nitrates, zinc, vitamin D, and L-theanine are less supported. Additional research is needed in order to more appropriately recommend these dietary supplements for sleep improvements.