Understand the source comparison
Best Research Practices for Melatonin: Research Standards Comparison
Dissolution Medium Ethanol or saline with vortexing DMSO at ≤10mg/mL, gentle rotation, no heat DMSO prevents oxidation and achieves consistent bioavailability. Ethanol introduces 15–20% variability Storage Temperature 4°C refrigeration in clear glass −20°C in
No winner is assigned.
This page preserves a source comparison for education. It does not add a rating, recommendation or clinical judgment.
- Dissolution Medium
- Ethanol or saline with vortexing
- DMSO at ≤10mg/mL, gentle rotation, no heat
- DMSO prevents oxidation and achieves consistent bioavailability. Ethanol introduces 15–20% variability
- Storage Temperature
- 4°C refrigeration in clear glass
- −20°C in amber glass vials, argon/nitrogen headspace
- Refrigeration causes 30% degradation over 90 days; freezer storage with inert gas maintains >95% potency for 12 months
- Light Exposure Control
- Standard lab lighting during prep
- Red light (>620nm) only, light-shielded hood
- Fluorescent lighting degrades melatonin 0.5% per hour. Red light eliminates photodegradation entirely
- Aliquot Strategy
- Bulk solution, multiple freeze-thaw cycles
- Single-use aliquots, no refreezing
- Repeated freeze-thaw causes 3–5% loss per cycle; single-use eliminates this variability
- Administration Timing
- 'Bedtime' or fixed clock time
- 2–4 hours before individual DLMO
- Clock-time dosing introduces unknown phase variability; DLMO-referenced timing isolates circadian effects
- Potency Validation
- Certificate of analysis at purchase
- HPLC verification at 0, 30, 90, 180 days
- Manufacturer CoA documents synthesis purity, not stability under your storage conditions. Ongoing validation catches degradation