Melatonin improves bowel symptoms in female patients with irritable bowel syndrome
While at first glance this may seem a little surprising, melatonin is created from serotonin, and serotonin plays a large role in regulation of GI motility. Some of the new “wonder” drugs for IBS affect this pathway. So, might the important factor not be serotonin, but rather the melatonin? And a serotonin deficiency in the gut would lead to less melatonin production? Seems like a logical thought process.
By the way, melatonin is a very inexpensive supplement and much cheaper than the new drugs for IBS affecting the same pathway.