CRN Debunks Inaccurate Headlines on Melatonin ‘Poisoning’ in Children | Business
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jun 8, 2022–
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, today issued the following statement in response to a number of recently published articles falsely reporting on a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
The following statement is by Andrea Wong, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs:
“As a toxicologist, I am disturbed by recent headlines claiming melatonin ‘poisoning’ in children rose 530% in 10 years—that is simply inaccurate. These news stories grossly misrepresent the CDC investigation and raise undue alarm.
“When a parent calls a poison control center about their child possibly ingesting a substance, that call gets counted as an ingestion report regardless of the medical outcome. The mere act of calling a poison control center to inquire about accidental ingestion does not mean that a poisoning or other adverse event occurred.
“In fact, the CDC study shows 98% of the reports of melatonin ingestion had an outcome of no effect or minor effect, and the overwhelming majority of children (83%) were completely asymptomatic. For the few reports associated with an adverse outcome, it is not possible to confirm whether the outcomes were caused by melatonin ingestion since poison control data does not include patient medical records.
“The fact is melatonin is a beneficial dietary supplement that helps to adjust our internal body clocks that regulate sleep and is safe when used as directed.
“In addition, news reporting of this increase in ingestion reports that lacks context also misleads parents about the potential dangers. Look at the numbers: Over the last decade, melatonin use has grown exponentially. The Nutrition Business Journal reports the market for melatonin increased 288% in the past five years alone—of course that would correlate with an increasing number of instances where a parent called a poison control center out of an abundance of care and caution.
“CRN’s own national consumer survey data reveals the number of Americans using melatonin more than doubled from 5% of adults in 2012 to 11% of adults in 2021. The CDC notes that the year of greatest increase in reports was between 2019 and 2020, when poison control center ingestion reports increased by 37.9%. During that same period, melatonin sales increased by close to 40%, according to two different industry reports. Unavoidably, more use means more possibilities for accidental ingestion.
“As a toxicologist—and a parent—I took two key points from the CDC research: First, parents should talk to their children’s healthcare providers about whether melatonin supplements may be helpful, the appropriate dose, and duration of use. Also, parents must remember to keep all supplements out of children’s reach and to follow the directions for use on the label.”
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing more than 200 dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and companies providing services to those manufacturers and suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and food in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety, our manufacturer and supplier members also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN’s Code of Ethics. For more information, visit www.crnusa.org. Follow us on Twitter @CRN—Supplements and LinkedIn.
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CONTACT: Kendall Ridley
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KEYWORD: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RESEARCH WOMEN PARENTING FITNESS & NUTRITION MEN FAMILY ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE CONSUMER HEALTH SCIENCE
SOURCE: The Council for Responsible Nutrition
Copyright Business Wire 2022.
PUB: 06/08/2022 11:23 AM/DISC: 06/08/2022 11:24 AM
Copyright Business Wire 2022.