Research

Hormonal

Dietary intake of melatonin-rich plant foods (particularly seeds and fruits) increases serum melatonin levels and urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin concentrations in humans, contributing to endogenous modulation.

To support your natural melatonin levels through diet, prioritize eating seeds (like sunflower, flax, sesame) and fruits (like tart cherries, grapes, olives). These plant parts contain the highest concentrations of melatonin found in nature. While your body produces melatonin, dietary intake from these sources contributes to serum levels, which may be particularly beneficial as endogenous production declines with age.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Some studies report that foodstuffs intake containing melatonin may contribute to raising the level of this molecule in the serum and 6-sulfatoxymelatonin concentrations in urine [89].
Bahare Salehi et al. · Cells · 2019

Why this rating

The paper is a review citing multiple studies; it states 'Some studies report' without providing specific trial data or effect sizes in this text.

Source

Melatonin in Medicinal and Food Plants: Occurrence, Bioavailability, and Health Potential for Humans

Bahare Salehi et al. · Cells · 2019

DOI 10.3390/cells8070681

narrative_reviewCited 172×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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