Investigating Recent Digital Search Trends for Melatonin and Other Sleep-Enhancing Supplements and Their Link to Usage Patterns: A Google Trends Study

Investigating Recent Digital Search Trends for Melatonin and Other Sleep-Enhancing Supplements and Their Link to Usage Patterns: A Google Trends Study | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Investigating Recent Digital Search Trends for Melatonin and Other Sleep-Enhancing Supplements and Their Link to Usage Patterns: A Google Trends Study Songül Çağlar, Mehmet Buğra Kara This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8148926/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study aims to focus public attention on search terms that include melatonin and other sleep promoters based on information from the Google search engine, to analyze regional and seasonal trends and predict the public's interest in these supporters in the future." The global interest in "melatonin" and other sleep supplements was assessed through search volume analysis via the "Subject" search tool in Google Extended Trends for Health data. From December 22, 2019, to December 28, 2024, a thorough examination was carried out, targeting the keywords 'Melatonin', 'magnesium', 'zinc', 'theanine', and 'apigenin'. Data were analyzed using correlation and simple linear regression models, one-way ANOVA test, 5-year rolling mean analysis, and feature significance. Melatonin emerged as the most prevalent sleep promoter identified in global searches. The strongest relationship identified among the search terms was between magnesium and theanine, while the lowest relationship was between zinc and sleep. The year in which the moving average increased the most in the last five years was 2023. After 2023, the popularity of magnesium-sleep, zinc-sleep, melatonin-sleep, and sleep variables continued to increase, while the popularity of apigenin-sleep and theanine sleep parameters decreased. It was ascertained that the increase in theanine, melatonin, magnesium, and apigenin values in Google searches increased the sleep variable. In contrast, the decrease in these values led to a reduction in the sleep variable. It is predicted that the popularity of melatonin and magnesium will continue to increase in 2025, particularly concerning searches related to sleep. Integrative & Complementary Medicine Melatonin Apigenin Zinc Magnesium Theanine Google trends Introduction Melatonin, a hormone produced endogenously by the pineal gland, has been reported to have numerous physiological functions and pharmacological effects, including those of a hormone, cytokine, neuromodulator, and biological response regulator. It has been demonstrated that melatonin plays a regulatory role in the sleep/wake cycle, and other circadian and seasonal rhythms, and it functions as an immunostimulatory and cytoprotective agent [ 1 – 3 ]. Melatonin has been demonstrated to support brain, immune system, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, renal, bone, and endocrine functions, and to act as an oncostatic and anti-aging molecule. It has been shown to have a positive effect on reproductive functions and mood and to alleviate pain. As a result of these beneficial impacts, the popularity of melatonin among both well individuals and those with health issues is growing steadily. For many years, exogenous melatonin has been applied in the treatment of several disorders, with a focus on sleep-related issues like jet lag, insomnia, delayed sleep-wake phase disorder, and difficulties arising from shift work [ 1 , 4 ]. Exogenous melatonin can effectively treat insomnia by mimicking natural endogenous melatonin, binding to the same receptors, and activating the same downstream pathways [ 1 ]. Melatonin is a widely used over-the-counter sleep supplement [ 5 ]. The increasing popularity of melatonin, along with its recommendation for a variety of chronic diseases other than sleep problems, particularly the ease with which it can be obtained without a prescription, may result in the self-administration of melatonin [ 5 ]. Research indicates that the consumption of melatonin has consistently increased over time [ 6 – 8 ]. This increase has also positively affected scientific research, and the scientific literature on melatonin is also increasing [ 9 , 10 ]. Although the prevalence of melatonin has been studied in several countries, data on the global prevalence of sleep-related melatonin use is insufficient [ 5 , 6 , 11 , 12 ]. Research into global melatonin use may contribute to a global understanding of sleep supplement consumption patterns and possible regional differences. The findings could play an important role in informing worldwide public health campaigns that aim to enhance sleep quality. By analyzing how people search for and navigate health-related information online and how they communicate and share that information, we can gain valuable insights into the health-related behavior of populations. As sleep has become popular in recent years, interest in sleep supplements continues to grow. There is a lot of information available online about melatonin. Individuals can easily get the information they want, such as melatonin and other sleep promoters, duration of use, and dose of use. This study aimed to analyze the recent search popularity related to Melatonin and other sleep promoters with Google Trends (Alphabet Inc., Mountain View, CA). Utilizing the Machine Learning Approach allows for a reliable statistical evaluation of the relationships between various terms, accounts for possible confounding influences, anticipates future developments and surpasses simple descriptive analysis. These elements differentiate this work and contribute to a deeper understanding of the public health trends in melatonin and other sleep supplements. Methods This research's findings were presented following the guidelines established by Hölzl et al. (2025) [13]. We performed an infodemiological analysis to examine the public's interest in search queries associated with melatonin usage through Google Trends. Data Source: Over 90% of internet searches globally are handled by Google. The company utilizes multiple factors, including users' past searches, trending topics, and their locations, to assess this information and optimize results through algorithms that reflect individual search purposes (Google Privacy & Terms, t.y.).The Google Trends tool is a specific term of interest (i.e., a complete combination of keywords or keywords in a search query) or topic (i.e., a, terms that share the same concept are grouped and collected by Google), giving Google access to search requests. Big data plays a vital role for Google in understanding the search queries of users and delivering rankings that meet their expectations. Therefore, Google algorithms identify the topics that users are looking for and match the data on all web pages that contain those topics. So it understands whether the user is looking for current news, weather, or statistics related to a search and lists the appropriate results on the search engine results page known as SERP (Search Engine Results Page) [14].( Google Trends for Health (GETH) data) Google Trends is a free data service that analyzes the popularity of concepts or topics related to Google search intent with real-time data. In this context, Google Trends shows user search behavior in the context of time, season and location factors to contribute to the marketing strategies of companies. Relative search volume (RSV) is calculated by comparing the normalized volume of a particular search interest at a given time and location with all searches at the same time and location. The RSV is then scaled to between 100 and 00 as an interest index, where 100 represents the highest popularity of search for the selected period and location [15]. Up to five search term combinations are comparable. Google Trends is a widely used tool for infodemiological research. Google Trends can be an effective and efficient infodemiological tool as long as the reliability of web search indexes is properly analyzed and weighted for scientific purposes [15]. Search strategy In terms of search methodology, the study was firmly grounded in the principles described in a previous study by Mavragani and colleagues. For accurate and trustworthy information retrieval, it’s essential to choose the right keywords and to ensure they are entered correctly, avoiding any typing errors during the Search 16 The first step taken by the team was to recognize "melatonin" as the central term of interest. In recent years, this term has been highlighted as it receives significant attention in social media and various web and print publications. ( GoogleTrends , t.y.). The "health" category was selected for each analysis to examine health-related interests. The literature was then reviewed to determine what other sleep stabilizers were, and common dietary supplements used to improve sleep quality included melatonin, magnesium, zinc, and L-theanine [1]. Data analysis The dataset covered the previous five years. Global data was collected using filters from December 22, 2019, through December 28, 2024."The term "melatonin" was analyzed with Google Trends. Search popularity was assessed for relative search volume (RSV) over 5 years. Changes in RSV were also compared to other sleep supporters, "magnesium", "zinc", "theanine", "apigenin". A data scientist named M.B.K from the research team executed the data withdrawal and trend analysis on December 28, 2024. The evaluation of the changes in RSVs for search terms over time was conducted using simple linear regression models."One-way variance analysis was used to evaluate monthly RSV differences between "Melatonin", "Magnesium", "Zinc", "Apigenin" and "L theanin. To explore the connections between search queries, an analysis using Pearson Sequence correlation was carried out, and the significance of the correlation coefficients was assessed through the calculation of probability (p) values. Ethical approval As the information from Google Trends is publicly accessible and aggregated without personal identifiers, this study does not require ethics clearance. Results Search Term: "Melatonin" Results reveal that there is no considerable growth in "Melatonin" on a worldwide scale over the last five years, although the level of public interest has stayed unchanged during this time. The graph illustrates the period of maximum increase, which occurred between 2-8 January 2022, with the peak point occurring in the week of 21-27 February 2021. When the area of interest is analyzed by region, Norway is found to be the leading country in terms of melatonin. The top five most relevant queries for melatonin are 'melatonin Covid,' 'melatonin and Covid,' 'cloudy melatonin diffuser,' 'dr theiss melatonin spray,' and 'cloudy,' respectively. The five related topics are 'hormone,' 'gum,' 'medicine,' '200mg,' and 'Dr Theiss.' Search Terms: "Apigenin-sleep" The findings demonstrate that global interest in the term 'Apigenin-sleep' has increased significantly since 10 July 2021, with a further notable rise occurring after this date. The week of 18-24 July 2021 saw the initial and only peak in interest. When the area of interest is analyzed by region, New Zealand ranks first for apigenin. The top five most related queries for apigenin are 'magnesium', 'apigenin Huberman', 'theanine sleep', 'theanine', 'threonate', respectively. The five related topics are 'Magnesium', 'Andrew Huberman', 'Reddit', 'Magnesium L-Threonate' and 'Dose'. Search Terms: "Zinc-sleep" The findings demonstrated a global increase in interest in "Zinc-Sleep" over 5 years commencing on 8 February 2020, with a nadir observed on 21-27 January 2024. A further analysis of the data revealed that Zimbabwe is the first country to rank for zinc-sleep when its area of interest is examined by region.The top five queries related to zinc-sleep are, respectively, "how much magnesium per day", "which magnesium is best for sleep", "zinc bisglycinate", "what does zinc help with", and "zinc benefits for women. The five topics involved are "Sleep Support", "Daily", "Supplements", "Reddit Inc.t", and "Jelly Candy. Search term: "Melatonin-sleep" The findings indicate that there has been no significant increase in global interest in the term "Melatonin-sleep" over the past five years, with public interest remaining consistent at a certain level. However, a notable increase was observed from 2-8 January 2022, with a further significant increase occurring from 7-13 January 2024 to 28 January 3 February. The period of 28 January to 3 February saw a notable surge in interest related to Theanine and sleep. Interestingly, Australia has emerged as the leading nation in terms of melatonin-related interest when examining regional differences, with Trinidad and Tobago being a notable example of a country exhibiting a high level of interest that is closely aligned with that of Australia. The top five queries related to melatonin and sleep are "relaxium sleep", "safe alternatives to melatonin for children", "CBD gummies", "best sleep aid for adults" and "magnesium glycinate". The five topics involved are "Gummy", "Sleep", "Sleep Support", "Sleep Aid" and "Sleep Support Supplement". Search term: "Magnesium sleep" The findings demonstrate a surge in global interest in the 'Magnesium-sleep' phenomenon, which has been observed to occur over the 5 years since 22 December 2022. A notable escalation in interest was observed between 24 and 30 December 2023, with a subsequent peak occurring between 28 January and 3 February, coinciding with the peaks in interest observed for melatonin-sleep, theanine, and sleep. A further analysis of the geographical distribution of interest reveals New Zealand as the leading region for research on Magnesium. The top five queries related to Magnesium include 'apigenin', 'apigenin sleep', 'huberman sleep cocktail', 'magnesium glycinate chemist warehouse' and 'sweet sleep magnesium butter'. The five related topics are 'Sleep Support', 'Andrew Huberman', 'Magnesium L-Threonate', 'Magnesium for Sleep' and 'Apigenin'. Search Term: "Theanine-sleep" The findings showed that the global interest in "Theanine-sleep" over 5 years increased after July 3, 2021. The most serious increase occurred on 14-20 April 2024 week. He performed his peek between 4 and 10 February 2024. The two closest points to Peek are the week of 18-24 July 2021, the second week of apigenin and apigenin-sleep, and the second one is the week of 28 January 3 February 2024, magnesium-sleep ,melatonin-sleep, the week Theanine and sleep make peek. When the area of interest is examined according to the region, there are 3 countries in the first place for Magnesium. These; Canada, America, and New Zealand are located. In Theanine, we observed that it was concentrated in the same countries. The top five questions about Theanine are "apigenin" "Huberman sleep", "apigenin for sleep", "sleep cocktail", "Andrew Huberman sleep" respectively. The five topics involved are "Apigenin", "Sleep Support", "Andrew Huberman", "Magnesium L-threonate" and "theanine. Comparison of the Last 5-year Interest Levels of Users Towards the Words "Melatonin-sleep", "Magnesium-sleep" and "Zinc" (Chart) A comparison of user interest levels with "Melatonin-sleep", "Magnesium-sleep" and "Zinc" over five years reveals a significant increase in searches for "Theanine-sleep" and "Apigenin-sleep" on 18-24 July 2021. Conversely, searches for "melatonin-sleep", "magnesium-sleep", "zinc-sleep" and "sleep" reach their peak from January 28 to February 3, 2024 (Graphics 1). 5 Year Moving Average Analysis In this study, the moving average method was employed to address the short-term fluctuations in specific characteristics of the data set, thereby facilitating the identification of prevailing trends.To this end, a 30-day moving average was calculated for the variables melatonin-sleep, theanine-sleep, magnesium-sleep, zinc-sleep, apigenin-sleep, and sleep. The calculation of the moving average involved the replacement of each data point with the average value of the previous 30 days, thereby reducing short-term fluctuations and enhancing the visibility of long-term trends. The implementation of the code was facilitated by the pandas library in the Python programming language.The analysis yielded the determination of 2023 as the year in which the moving average increased the most in the last five-year period. The graph illustrates the increase in the moving average for melatonin-sleep, theanine-sleep, magnesium-sleep, zinc-sleep, apigenin-sleep, and sleep variables in 2023, with a continuation of this increase in 2024 for melatonin-sleep, magnesium-sleep, and sleep variables. This sustained increase indicates a persistent interest in melatonin and magnesium, which is likely to extend into 2025, particularly in terms of searches related to sleep. Average values by year From 2020 to 2023, the popularity of melatonin-sleep, theanine-sleep, magnesium-sleep, zinc-sleep, apigenin-sleep, and sleep variables is growing. Following 2023, there is a growing trend in the use of magnesium for sleep, while the appeal of melatonin and various sleep factors remains on the rise. Conversely, the interest in apigenin and theanine as sleep aids appears to be declining (Graphics 2). Average values by months In the third and fifth months, melatonin-sleep, theanine-sleep, magnesium-sleep, zinc-sleep, apigenin-sleep, and sleep have experienced declines on average 10 months. It has been observed that other variables except ,chain-sleep have again experienced a decrease per month. 7. Elevations were observed in all variables per month (Graphics 3). Regression models The present study aims to examine the effects of variables such as 'melatonin', 'magnesium', 'zinc', 'apigenin' and 'theanine' on 'sleep' by regression analysis, as obtained from Google Trends data. Gradient Boosting is a powerful ensemble method used to improve prediction accuracy in machine learning. This method works by sequentially training a set of simple models (usually decision trees). The efficacy of this approach is attributable to the sequential training of these models, with each new model enhancing overall performance by learning from the errors of the preceding model. Gradient Boosting methods have been demonstrated to be a powerful tool for this type of analysis, owing to their capacity to model linear and non-linear relationships. By unveiling the effects of independent variables on the target variable with greater precision, this approach provides valuable insights into the significance levels and effects of parameters (Graphics 4). Upon visualizing the predictions derived from the regression analysis of the Catboost model, as determined by the metric success and the actual values, it is evident that the model captures the general pattern, yet predicts the values differently on average by 2.72, as evidenced by the MAE metric. Given that the objective of this project is to observe the effect of variables such as 'melatonin', magnesium, 'zinc', 'apigenin', and 'theanine' on 'sleep', the model is successful in detecting the general pattern. Feature Importance This graph shows the importance of 'melatonin', 'magnesium', 'zinc', 'apigenin', 'theanine', 'melatonin', 'magnesium', 'zinc', 'apigenin', 'theanine' used to predict the sleep variable in a regression model. This analysis helps to identify which traits are more critical in predicting the sleep variable. Each bar represents the contribution of that trait to the model, and the length of the bar represents the magnitude of the effect of that trait on the predictive power. In the graph, theanine and magnesium stand out as the most important traits, indicating that these two variables play a critical role in the model's predictions. In addition, time-related factors such as melatonin, year, month, and season also make significant contributions to the model. Variables such as zinc and apigenin, which have lower levels of significance, have a more limited impact on the model results. (Graphics 5). Shap Values SHAP, an acronym for SHapley Additive exPlanations, is a method employed to elucidate the predictions of machine learning models, thereby facilitating comprehension of the rationale behind a model's specific prediction.SHAP employs numerical calculation to express the effect of each feature (e.g. melatonin or magnesium) on the target variable, thereby enabling the discernment of the influence of traits on prediction.SHAP values signify whether a trait enhances or diminishes the prediction. Values positioned to the right of 0 represent positive effects, while those placed to the left represent negative effects. A positive SHAP value indicates that the feature increases the prediction value, whereas a negative SHAP value suggests that it decreases the prediction value.The vertical axis of the graph lists the features that were utilized in the model. The colors in the graph indicate low or high values of the features. Red (High) denotes high values of the feature and blue (Low) denotes low values. This graph assists in understanding which variable in the model exerts a more significant effect on the target variable, and whether this effect is positive or negative. Consequently, it facilitates the explanation and interpretation of the model's predictions. In this study, the red dots for melatonin in the graph indicate that elevated levels of melatonin result in an increase in the model prediction, while blue dots signify that reduced levels of melatonin lead to a decrease in the prediction. The graph's output suggests that an increase in theanine, melatonin, magnesium, and apigenin values increases the sleep variable, while a decrease in these values leads to a decrease in the sleep variable (Graphics 6). SARIMAX Model: Seasonal Time Series Analysis and Forecasting The SARIMAX model is a tool that can make robust forecasts on time series, especially those with seasonal patterns and exogenous factors.SARIMAX stands for Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average with Exogenous Variables, and its Turkish equivalent is Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average Model with Exogenous Variables. The model forecasts by analyzing seasonal patterns, trends, and the effects of exogenous variables in time series. The model is capable of detecting and incorporating recurrent patterns (e.g. seasons or annual cycles) into its analysis. Additionally, SARIMAX is not solely reliant on historical data; the incorporation of exogenous variables (e.g. weather, and economic indicators) enhances the accuracy of forecasts (Graphics 7). In the image above, using the SARIMAX model, 1-year forecasts of melatonin, sleep patterns, magnesium, zinc, apigenin, and theanine levels based on historical data are shown. When these predictions are analyzed, it is observed that while an increase in the popularity of apigenin is expected, the search trend of other parameters will continue with similar interest. Based on the seasonality, annual, and monthly cycles of each parameter, predictions are made for the next 12 months. 9. One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey HSD (Honest Significant Difference) This study, which included the results of the one-way ANOVA (Variance Analysis) and Tukey HSD test, aimed to examine Google Trends data associated with certain parameters and whether the differences between groups were significant Comparisons of melatonin and other sleep promoters over the last five years were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance. The groups analyzed included categories such as melatonin, zinc, magnesium, theanine, apigenin, and sleep, and monthly measurements covering the last five years were used. According to this result, there was a significant difference between the groups in monthly measurements of search terms, F= 879.8, p<0.001. Tukey HSD test was used to analyze the differences between the groups. According to the results of the Tukey HSD test, significant differences were found between all groups (p=0.001). For example, the apigenin category was found to have lower values compared to all other categories. The largest of these differences was 60.86 units between the apigenin and sleep categories. There was also a more moderate difference between the melatonin and magnesium categories (8.97 units). In addition, the difference between theanine and zinc categories was relatively small (4.97 units) and it was observed that these groups had more similar values than the others. As a result of the analysis, all confidence intervals did not contain zero, reinforcing the findings that there were significant differences between the groups. This shows that all analysed categories are different from each other. 10. Spearman Correlation While Pearson correlation evaluates only linear relationships, Spearman correlation focuses on a broader type of relationship, i.e. ordinal relationships. For this reason, the relationship between the variables in the analysis was examined in the Spearman correlation. Spearman correlation is calculated by transforming data points into ranks and Pearson correlation is applied over the ranks. Therefore, it provides a more stable measurement by reducing the effect of extreme outliers. The correlation analysis revealed a near-perfect correlation between magnesium and theanine (r=.95). This suggests that these two supplements are strongly related to each other and may have similar effects when taken together. Similarly, the correlation coefficient between magnesium and sleep also indicates a positive and very high positive relationship (r=.80). Melatonin and sleep also showed a moderate positive correlation (r=0.54). This finding suggests that melatonin supplementation exerts an effect on sleep, but this effect may be more limited in comparison to other factors (e.g. magnesium). Remarkably, the correlation coefficients between zinc and other variables are quite low and the relationship between zinc and sleep is almost negligible (r=.016). This may indicate that the effect of zinc supplementation on sleep is limited or overshadowed by other factors (Table 1). Discussion The findings from the analysis of Google search trends highlight significant global interest in melatonin and other sleep supplements, reflecting a growing public concern about sleep quality and health. This study aimed to quantify and elucidate the temporal and regional dynamics of search behavior related to sleep supplements, providing valuable insights into public interest and its potential determinants. The terms chosen for the research were selected from supplements that have been identified in sleep medicine as sleep-promoting [16–19]. Melatonin's prominence as the most prevalent search term underscores its widespread recognition and utilization as a sleep supplement. The consistent increase in search volume for melatonin suggests an ongoing reliance on and trust in this supplement for managing sleep disorders. This trend may be attributed to melatonin's well-documented efficacy and its relatively low-risk profile compared to prescription sleep medications. The hypothesis that these sleep supplements may be associated with an increase in sleep, possibly related to melatonin, was supported by the analysis results. The estimate is that about 20% of adults in the United States are regular users of prescription or over-the-counter sleep supplements [1]. In 2023, there was a significant increase in the moving average of searches for sleep-related terms, which could be a sign of increased public attention to sleep health at that time. This surge could be linked to increased stress and sleep disturbances experienced globally due to various socio-economic factors, such as the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As in previous studies, the search terms related to melatonin were found to be related to the Covid-19 pandemic [20]. A further analysis of the search results revealed that keywords related to "Covid" appeared among five queries related to melatonin. It is noteworthy that during the week of January 3-9, 2021, when melatonin searches peaked, the ongoing pandemic of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) had not yet reached its zenith, and vaccination programs had only just commenced [21]. For this reason, people may have seen the use of Melatonin as an alternative for protection from the disease or treatment in case of infection. Studies published before and after these dates have also stated that Melatonin can be used as an adjuvant treatment against COVID-19. [22,23]. It's understandable that Covid-19 is the most commonly used screening term for this reason. This study shows the great impact of social media and news publications on current aesthetic trends and treatments. Magnesium is among the popular supplements for treating insomnia on social media [18]. Apigenin, magnesium, and theanine scans show that Andrew Huberman is effective. Search trends for all three sleep promoters include "Andrew Huberman" among the top five most relevant queries. Huberman, a neuroscientist, tweeted in 2021 about sleep supplements and published an article on his website describing the contribution of magnesium, theanine, and apigenin to sleep [24]. Despite a rise in the average of all melatonin and other sleep supplements in 2023, there is a possibility that the melatonin and magnesium variables will continue to increase in 2024. Interestingly, while the popularity of magnesium, zinc, melatonin, and sleep-related searches continued to rise post-2023, there was a decline in searches for apigenin and theanine. This shift may indicate changing public perceptions or emerging preferences for other sleep aids over these particular supplements. For this reason, it is important to continue to investigate the effects of melatonin and magnesium on sleep and their possible side effects in future studies and to demonstrate their effects on sleep quality. To increase public awareness of these issues, sleep-related websites must offer reliable information. The correlation analysis revealed interesting associations between different sleep supplements. The strong positive relationship between magnesium and theanine suggests that these supplements are often sought together, possibly indicating a combined use for enhancing sleep quality. The weak correlation between zinc and sleep-related searches suggests that zinc's potential benefits for sleep may be less prominent or less known to the public. The regression analysis further confirmed that increases in searches for theanine, melatonin, magnesium, and apigenin were associated with a corresponding rise in sleep-related queries. This finding underscores the potential impact of public interest in these supplements on overall sleep health awareness. It can be inferred that the interest of the public in specific sleep promoters is directly influenced by their attention to sleep health, as indicated by the decline in sleep-related searches during supplement queries. Google Trends data analysis suggests that interest in melatonin and magnesium, especially in sleep-related searches, will continue in 2025, thus emphasizing that researchers should consider the use of melatonin and magnesium in interventions aimed at preventing sleep problems. Melatonin and magnesium are supplements that have been extensively studied, but there are conflicting results [1]. Looking forward, the predicted continued rise in the popularity of melatonin and magnesium in 2025 highlights the sustained importance of these supplements in the public's approach to improving sleep. This trend suggests a potential area for further research and public health initiatives, focusing on the safe and effective use of these supplements to promote better sleep hygiene and overall health. In recent years, there have been studies in the literature where researchers have examined melatonin and magnesium together [25,26]. The study by Carlos and colleagues concluded that a melatonin-magnesium supplement in the form of coffee capsules can enhance sleep quality in healthy individuals with sleep disorders [25]. This research, based on Google Trends data, suggests that the public will continue to rely on sleep aids to improve their sleep quality or address potential sleep problems. Sleep specialists and physicians should inquire about their patients' use of such supplements when planning treatments and provide necessary information about sleep aids to the public. Further research is necessary to develop strategies to prevent the misuse of melatonin and other sleep supplements. In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of public interest in melatonin and other sleep promoters, revealing key trends and correlations that could inform future research and public health strategies. The ongoing monitoring of search trends can offer valuable insights into evolving public perceptions and behaviors related to sleep health, ultimately aiding in the development of targeted interventions to address sleep-related issues. Limitations and Strengths Several limitations exist in the current study which is based on Google Trends data and all similar studies. Firstly, Google Trends data is limited to searches by online users in regions with free access to information and the Internet. Secondly, Internet access and usage vary significantly across different age groups, socio-economic statuses, and geographical locations. This variation raises concerns about potential biases in the data, as it represents Internet users and may not reflect the broader population. Consequently, the findings of the study may not fully represent the general population. Thirdly, there can be various reasons associated with changes in search behavior, as each search query could be influenced by increased media coverage, news reporting that sparks curiosity about specific topics, and individual curiosity among other factors. The study suggests that melatonin and other sleep supplements have a strong connection to sleep, but it does not examine the potential causes or factors that contribute to this connection. From another perspective, Google search data can be considered advantageous for several reasons. Firstly, the data is updated in near real-time. Secondly, Google Trends data represents aggregated measurements of search activity and is therefore less vulnerable to small sample biases. Thirdly, search results are normalized by query time and location, facilitating easier comparisons between terms of interest. Fourthly, people's searches on the Google engine reflect their uncensored desires and needs for information and are therefore free from many biases present in traditional self-report surveys [27]. Additionally, the choice of the English language in the study to obtain global data has strengthened the study's generalizability. Declarations Non-financial Disclosure : None Data Availability Statement: All data can be freely obtained directly from Google Trends (https://trends.google.com/trends/). References Esquivel MK, Ghosn B. Current Evidence on Common Dietary Supplements for Sleep Quality. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine . 2024;18(3):323-327. doi:10.1177/15598276241227915 Hardeland R, Pandi-Perumal SR, Cardinali DP. Melatonin. The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology . 2006;38(3):313-316. doi:10.1016/j.biocel.2005.08.020 Yeom JW, Cho CH. Herbal and Natural Supplements for Improving Sleep: A Literature Review. Psychiatry Investig . 2024;21(8):810-821. doi:10.30773/pi.2024.0121 Auger RR, Burgess HJ, Emens JS, Deriy LV, Thomas SM, Sharkey KM. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Intrinsic Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders: Advanced Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder (ASWPD), Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder (DSWPD), Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Rhythm Disorder (N24SWD), and Irregular Sleep-Wake Rhythm Disorder (ISWRD). An Update for 2015: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine . 2015;11(10):1199-1236. doi:10.5664/jcsm.5100 Li J, Somers VK, Xu H, Lopez-Jimenez F, Covassin N. Trends in Use of Melatonin Supplements Among US Adults, 1999-2018. JAMA . 2022;327(5):483-485. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.23652 Bliddal M, Kildegaard H, Rasmussen L, et al. Melatonin use among children, adolescents, and young adults: a Danish nationwide drug utilization study. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry . 2023;32(10):2021-2029. doi:10.1007/s00787-022-02035-1 Hartz I, Handal M, Tverdal A, Skurtveit S. Paediatric Off-Label Use of Melatonin – A Register Linkage Study between the Norwegian Prescription Database and Patient Register. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology . 2015;117(4):267-273. doi:10.1111/bcpt.12411 Steffenak AKM, Wilde-Larsson B, Nordström G, Skurtveit S, Hartz I. Increase in psychotropic drug use between 2006 and 2010 among adolescents in Norway: a nationwide prescription database study. Clinical Epidemiology . 2012;4:225-231. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S31624 López-Muñoz F, Povedano-Montero FJ, Romero A, Egea J, Alamo C. The crossroads of melatonin: Bibliometric analysis and mapping of global scientific research. Melatonin Research . 2021;4(1):152-172. doi:10.32794/mr1250088 Zakaria R, Ahmi A, Ahmad AH, Othman Z. Worldwide melatonin research: a bibliometric analysis of the published literature between 2015 and 2019. Chronobiology International . 2021;38(1):27-37. doi:10.1080/07420528.2020.1838534 Alateeq D, Alsubaie MA, Alsafi FA, Alsulaiman SH, Korayem GB. The use of dietary supplements for mental health among the Saudi population: A cross-sectional survey. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal . 2022;30(6):742-749. doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2022.03.017 Alqurashi Y, Alhaddad M, Albahrani A, et al. Prevalence and patterns of sleep-related melatonin usage among adults in Saudi Arabia: A self-reported cross-sectional national study. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal . Published online August 26, 2024:102166. doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2024.102166 Hölzl J, Keusch F, Sajons C. The (mis)use of Google Trends data in the social sciences - A systematic review, critique, and recommendations. Social Science Research . 2025;126:103099. doi:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2024.103099 Aktaş SG, Özçağlayan M. Using Google Trends as a Big Data Tool in Digital Journalism. Published online 2024. Rovetta A. Google trends in infodemiology: Methodological steps to avoid irreproducible results and invalid conclusions. Int J Med Inform . 2024;190:105563. doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105563 Mavragani A, Ochoa G. Google Trends in Infodemiology and Infoveillance: Methodology Framework. JMIR Public Health Surveill . 2019;5(2):e13439. doi:10.2196/13439 Aurora RN, Kristo DA, Bista SR, et al. Update to the AASM Clinical Practice Guideline: “The Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder in Adults—An Update for 2012: Practice Parameters with an Evidence-Based Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses.” Sleep . 2012;35(8):1037-1037. doi:10.5665/sleep.1986 Howell M, Avidan AY, Foldvary -Schaefer Nancy, et al. Management of REM sleep behavior disorder: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine . 2023;19(4):759-768. doi:10.5664/jcsm.10424 Rawji A, Peltier MR, Mourtzanakis K, et al. Examining the Effects of Supplemental Magnesium on Self-Reported Anxiety and Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review. Cureus . 2024;16(4):e59317. doi:10.7759/cureus.59317 Shneider A, Kudriavtsev A, Vakhrusheva A. Can melatonin reduce the severity of COVID-19 pandemic? Int Rev Immunol . 2020;39(4):153-162. doi:10.1080/08830185.2020.1756284 Zitting KM, Lammers -van der Holst Heidi M., Yuan RK, Wang W, Quan SF, Duffy JF. Google Trends reveals increases in internet searches for insomnia during the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine . 2021;17(2):177-184. doi:10.5664/jcsm.8810 Mathieu E, Ritchie H, Rodés-Guirao L, et al. Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19). Our World in Data . Published online March 5, 2020. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations Faridzadeh A, Tabashiri A, Miri HH, Mahmoudi M. The role of melatonin as an adjuvant in the treatment of COVID-19: A systematic review. Heliyon . 2022;8(10):e10906. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10906 Vlachou M, Siamidi A, Dedeloudi A, Konstantinidou SK, Papanastasiou IP. Pineal hormone melatonin as an adjuvant treatment for COVID-19 (Review). Int J Mol Med . 2021;47(4):47. doi:10.3892/ijmm.2021.4880 Huberman A. Andrew Huberman Sleep Supplements Cocktail - 6 He Takes in 2024. Fast Life Hacks. July 26, 2022. Accessed January 22, 2025. https://fastlifehacks.com/andrew-huberman-sleep-supplements/ Carlos RM, Matias CN, Cavaca ML, et al. The effects of melatonin and magnesium in a novel supplement delivery system on sleep scores, body composition and metabolism in otherwise healthy individuals with sleep disturbances. Chronobiology International . 2024;41(6):817-828. doi:10.1080/07420528.2024.2353225 Djokic G, Vojvodić P, Korcok D, et al. The Effects of Magnesium – Melatonin - Vit B Complex Supplementation in Treatment of Insomnia. Open Access Maced J Med Sci . 2019;7(18):3101-3105. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.771 Hoerger M, Alonzi S, Perry LM, Voss HM, Easwar S, Gerhart JI. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health: Real-time surveillance using Google Trends. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy . 2020;12(6):567-568. doi:10.1037/tra0000872 Table Table 1 is available in the Supplementary Files section. Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files Table1.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Çağlar","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA/UlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYNCCAiBmB+IPBgdAXAMitIDUMDMwMM6Aa0kgUgszDwMRWuTbew+/5jGwk5d3Zn722abgTmIDe/M2CcYf93Cbf+ZcmjWPQbLhxsNsxrNzDJ4lNvAcK5NgSCjGrUUix8yYx+AA48ZmBmPmHIPDiQ1AEaAW3C6TnwHRYr+xmf0zswVIi/wb/FoYbuQYPwZqSZzPzGPMzAC2hQe/FoMzZ8wY5xgkJ29g5ilm7DF4ZtzGk1ZskZCGx2HtPcYf3lTY2c5vb9/M8OPPHdl+9sMbb3ywweMwBgY2CbB1B2BcEIFXAzACP4Cta8CvahSMglEwCkYwAABGZk46g9QE2QAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5412-0708","institution":"Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Songül","middleName":"","lastName":"Çağlar","suffix":""},{"id":547145097,"identity":"14bba60b-fd88-4d76-9e25-a0d24475ff85","order_by":1,"name":"Mehmet Buğra Kara","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5115-1288","institution":"Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal 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It has been demonstrated that melatonin plays a regulatory role in the sleep/wake cycle, and other circadian and seasonal rhythms, and it functions as an immunostimulatory and cytoprotective agent [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR2\" citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. Melatonin has been demonstrated to support brain, immune system, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, renal, bone, and endocrine functions, and to act as an oncostatic and anti-aging molecule. It has been shown to have a positive effect on reproductive functions and mood and to alleviate pain. As a result of these beneficial impacts, the popularity of melatonin among both well individuals and those with health issues is growing steadily.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor many years, exogenous melatonin has been applied in the treatment of several disorders, with a focus on sleep-related issues like jet lag, insomnia, delayed sleep-wake phase disorder, and difficulties arising from shift work [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]. Exogenous melatonin can effectively treat insomnia by mimicking natural endogenous melatonin, binding to the same receptors, and activating the same downstream pathways [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Melatonin is a widely used over-the-counter sleep supplement [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe increasing popularity of melatonin, along with its recommendation for a variety of chronic diseases other than sleep problems, particularly the ease with which it can be obtained without a prescription, may result in the self-administration of melatonin [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. Research indicates that the consumption of melatonin has consistently increased over time [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR7\" citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]. This increase has also positively affected scientific research, and the scientific literature on melatonin is also increasing [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. Although the prevalence of melatonin has been studied in several countries, data on the global prevalence of sleep-related melatonin use is insufficient [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]. Research into global melatonin use may contribute to a global understanding of sleep supplement consumption patterns and possible regional differences. The findings could play an important role in informing worldwide public health campaigns that aim to enhance sleep quality. By analyzing how people search for and navigate health-related information online and how they communicate and share that information, we can gain valuable insights into the health-related behavior of populations.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs sleep has become popular in recent years, interest in sleep supplements continues to grow. There is a lot of information available online about melatonin. Individuals can easily get the information they want, such as melatonin and other sleep promoters, duration of use, and dose of use. This study aimed to analyze the recent search popularity related to Melatonin and other sleep promoters with Google Trends (Alphabet Inc., Mountain View, CA). Utilizing the Machine Learning Approach allows for a reliable statistical evaluation of the relationships between various terms, accounts for possible confounding influences, anticipates future developments and surpasses simple descriptive analysis. These elements differentiate this work and contribute to a deeper understanding of the public health trends in melatonin and other sleep supplements.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis research\u0026apos;s findings were presented following the guidelines established by H\u0026ouml;lzl et al. (2025) [13]. We performed an infodemiological analysis to examine the public\u0026apos;s interest in search queries associated with melatonin usage through Google Trends.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eData Source:\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eOver 90% of internet searches globally are handled by Google. The company utilizes multiple factors, including users\u0026apos; past searches, trending topics, and their locations, to assess this information and optimize results through algorithms that reflect individual search purposes (Google Privacy \u0026amp; Terms, t.y.).The Google Trends tool is a specific term of interest (i.e., a complete combination of keywords or keywords in a search query) or topic (i.e., a, terms that share the same concept are grouped and collected by Google), giving Google access to search requests. Big data plays a vital role for Google in understanding the search queries of users and delivering rankings that meet their expectations. Therefore, Google algorithms identify the topics that users are looking for and match the data on all web pages that contain those topics. So it understands whether the user is looking for current news, weather, or statistics related to a search and lists the appropriate results on the search engine results page known as SERP (Search Engine Results Page) [14].(\u0026nbsp;Google Trends for Health (GETH) data) Google Trends is a free data service that analyzes the popularity of concepts or topics related to Google search intent with real-time data. In this context, Google Trends shows user search behavior in the context of time, season and location factors to contribute to the marketing strategies of companies.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRelative search volume (RSV) is calculated by comparing the normalized volume of a particular search interest at a given time and location with all searches at the same time and location. The RSV is then scaled to between 100 and 00 as an interest index, where 100 represents the highest popularity of search for the selected period and location [15]. Up to five search term combinations are comparable. Google Trends is a widely used tool for infodemiological research. Google Trends can be an effective and efficient infodemiological tool as long as the reliability of web search indexes is properly analyzed and weighted for scientific purposes [15].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSearch strategy\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn terms of search methodology, the study was firmly grounded in the principles described in a previous study by Mavragani and colleagues. For accurate and trustworthy information retrieval, it\u0026rsquo;s essential to choose the right keywords and to ensure they are entered correctly, avoiding any typing errors during the Search\u0026nbsp;\u003csup\u003e16\u003c/sup\u003e The first step taken by the team was to recognize \u0026quot;melatonin\u0026quot; as the central term of interest. In recent years, this term has been highlighted as it receives significant attention in social media and various web and print publications. (\u003cem\u003eGoogleTrends\u003c/em\u003e, t.y.). \u0026nbsp;The \u0026quot;health\u0026quot; category was selected for each analysis to examine health-related interests. \u0026nbsp;The literature was then reviewed to determine what other sleep stabilizers were, and common dietary supplements used to improve sleep quality included melatonin, magnesium, zinc, and L-theanine [1].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eData analysis\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dataset covered the previous five years. Global data was collected using filters from December 22, 2019, through December 28, 2024.\u0026quot;The term \u0026quot;melatonin\u0026quot; was analyzed with Google Trends. Search popularity was assessed for relative search volume (RSV) over 5 years. Changes in RSV were also compared to other sleep supporters, \u0026quot;magnesium\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;zinc\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;theanine\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;apigenin\u0026quot;.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA data scientist named M.B.K from the research team executed the data withdrawal and trend analysis on December 28, 2024. The evaluation of the changes in RSVs for search terms over time was conducted using simple linear regression models.\u0026quot;One-way variance analysis was used to evaluate monthly RSV differences between \u0026quot;Melatonin\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Magnesium\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Zinc\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Apigenin\u0026quot; and \u0026quot;L theanin. To explore the connections between search queries, an analysis using Pearson Sequence correlation was carried out, and the significance of the correlation coefficients was assessed through the calculation of probability (p) values.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEthical approval\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the information from Google Trends is publicly accessible and aggregated without personal identifiers, this study does not require ethics clearance.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003col start=\"1\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSearch Term: \u0026quot;Melatonin\u0026quot;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResults reveal that there is no considerable growth in \u0026quot;Melatonin\u0026quot; on a worldwide scale over the last five years, although the level of public interest has stayed unchanged during this time. The graph illustrates the period of maximum increase, which occurred between 2-8 January 2022, with the peak point occurring in the week of 21-27 February 2021. When the area of interest is analyzed by region, Norway is found to be the leading country in terms of melatonin. The top five most relevant queries for melatonin are \u0026apos;melatonin Covid,\u0026apos; \u0026apos;melatonin and Covid,\u0026apos; \u0026apos;cloudy melatonin diffuser,\u0026apos; \u0026apos;dr theiss melatonin spray,\u0026apos; and \u0026apos;cloudy,\u0026apos; respectively. The five related topics are \u0026apos;hormone,\u0026apos; \u0026apos;gum,\u0026apos; \u0026apos;medicine,\u0026apos; \u0026apos;200mg,\u0026apos; and \u0026apos;Dr Theiss.\u0026apos;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSearch Terms: \u0026quot;Apigenin-sleep\u0026quot;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe findings demonstrate that global interest in the term \u0026apos;Apigenin-sleep\u0026apos; has increased significantly since 10 July 2021, with a further notable rise occurring after this date. The week of 18-24 July 2021 saw the initial and only peak in interest. When the area of interest is analyzed by region, New Zealand ranks first for apigenin. The top five most related queries for apigenin are \u0026apos;magnesium\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;apigenin Huberman\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;theanine sleep\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;theanine\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;threonate\u0026apos;, respectively. The five related topics are \u0026apos;Magnesium\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;Andrew Huberman\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;Reddit\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;Magnesium L-Threonate\u0026apos; and \u0026apos;Dose\u0026apos;.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSearch Terms: \u0026quot;Zinc-sleep\u0026quot;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe findings demonstrated a global increase in interest in \u0026quot;Zinc-Sleep\u0026quot; over 5 years commencing on 8 February 2020, with a nadir observed on 21-27 January 2024. A further analysis of the data revealed that Zimbabwe is the first country to rank for zinc-sleep when its area of interest is examined by region.The top five queries related to zinc-sleep are, respectively, \u0026quot;how much magnesium per day\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;which magnesium is best for sleep\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;zinc bisglycinate\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;what does zinc help with\u0026quot;, and \u0026quot;zinc benefits for women. The five topics involved are \u0026quot;Sleep Support\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Daily\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Supplements\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Reddit Inc.t\u0026quot;, and \u0026quot;Jelly Candy.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSearch term: \u0026quot;Melatonin-sleep\u0026quot;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe findings indicate that there has been no significant increase in global interest in the term \u0026quot;Melatonin-sleep\u0026quot; over the past five years, with public interest remaining consistent at a certain level. However, a notable increase was observed from 2-8 January 2022, with a further significant increase occurring from 7-13 January 2024 to 28 January 3 February. The period of 28 January to 3 February saw a notable surge in interest related to Theanine and sleep. Interestingly, Australia has emerged as the leading nation in terms of melatonin-related interest when examining regional differences, with Trinidad and Tobago being a notable example of a country exhibiting a high level of interest that is closely aligned with that of Australia. The top five queries related to melatonin and sleep are \u0026quot;relaxium sleep\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;safe alternatives to melatonin for children\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;CBD gummies\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;best sleep aid for adults\u0026quot; and \u0026quot;magnesium glycinate\u0026quot;. The five topics involved are \u0026quot;Gummy\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Sleep\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Sleep Support\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Sleep Aid\u0026quot; and \u0026quot;Sleep Support Supplement\u0026quot;.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSearch term: \u0026quot;Magnesium sleep\u0026quot;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe findings demonstrate a surge in global interest in the \u0026apos;Magnesium-sleep\u0026apos; phenomenon, which has been observed to occur over the 5 years since 22 December 2022. A notable escalation in interest was observed between 24 and 30 December 2023, with a subsequent peak occurring between 28 January and 3 February, coinciding with the peaks in interest observed for melatonin-sleep, theanine, and sleep. A further analysis of the geographical distribution of interest reveals New Zealand as the leading region for research on Magnesium. The top five queries related to Magnesium include \u0026apos;apigenin\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;apigenin sleep\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;huberman sleep cocktail\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;magnesium glycinate chemist warehouse\u0026apos; and \u0026apos;sweet sleep magnesium butter\u0026apos;. \u0026nbsp;The five related topics are \u0026apos;Sleep Support\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;Andrew Huberman\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;Magnesium L-Threonate\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;Magnesium for Sleep\u0026apos; and \u0026apos;Apigenin\u0026apos;.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSearch Term: \u0026quot;Theanine-sleep\u0026quot;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe findings showed that the global interest in \u0026quot;Theanine-sleep\u0026quot; over 5 years increased after July 3, 2021. The most serious increase occurred on 14-20 April 2024 week. He performed his peek between 4 and 10 February 2024. The two closest points to Peek are the week of 18-24 July 2021, the second week of apigenin and apigenin-sleep, and the second one is the week of 28 January 3 February 2024, magnesium-sleep ,melatonin-sleep, the week Theanine and sleep make peek. When the area of interest is examined according to the region, there are 3 countries in the first place for Magnesium. These; Canada, America, and New Zealand are located. In Theanine, we observed that it was concentrated in the same countries. The top five questions about Theanine are \u0026quot;apigenin\u0026quot; \u0026quot;Huberman sleep\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;apigenin for sleep\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;sleep cocktail\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Andrew Huberman sleep\u0026quot; respectively. \u0026nbsp;The five topics involved are \u0026quot;Apigenin\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Sleep Support\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Andrew Huberman\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Magnesium L-threonate\u0026quot; and \u0026quot;theanine.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col start=\"2\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComparison of the Last 5-year Interest Levels of Users Towards the Words \u0026quot;Melatonin-sleep\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Magnesium-sleep\u0026quot; and \u0026quot;Zinc\u0026quot; (Chart)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA comparison of user interest levels with \u0026quot;Melatonin-sleep\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Magnesium-sleep\u0026quot; and \u0026quot;Zinc\u0026quot; over five years reveals a significant increase in searches for \u0026quot;Theanine-sleep\u0026quot; and \u0026quot;Apigenin-sleep\u0026quot; on 18-24 July 2021. Conversely, searches for \u0026quot;melatonin-sleep\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;magnesium-sleep\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;zinc-sleep\u0026quot; and \u0026quot;sleep\u0026quot; reach their peak from January 28 to February 3, 2024 (Graphics 1).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col start=\"3\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5 Year Moving Average Analysis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this study, the moving average method was employed to address the short-term fluctuations in specific characteristics of the data set, thereby facilitating the identification of prevailing trends.To this end, a 30-day moving average was calculated for the variables melatonin-sleep, theanine-sleep, magnesium-sleep, zinc-sleep, apigenin-sleep, and sleep. The calculation of the moving average involved the replacement of each data point with the average value of the previous 30 days, thereby reducing short-term fluctuations and enhancing the visibility of long-term trends. The implementation of the code was facilitated by the pandas library in the Python programming language.The analysis yielded the determination of 2023 as the year in which the moving average increased the most in the last five-year period. The graph illustrates the increase in the moving average for melatonin-sleep, theanine-sleep, magnesium-sleep, zinc-sleep, apigenin-sleep, and sleep variables in 2023, with a continuation of this increase in 2024 for melatonin-sleep, magnesium-sleep, and sleep variables. This sustained increase indicates a persistent interest in melatonin and magnesium, which is likely to extend into 2025, particularly in terms of searches related to sleep.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAverage values by year\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom 2020 to 2023, the popularity of melatonin-sleep, theanine-sleep, magnesium-sleep, zinc-sleep, apigenin-sleep, and sleep variables is growing.\u0026nbsp;Following 2023, there is a growing trend in the use of magnesium for sleep, while the appeal of melatonin and various sleep factors remains on the rise. Conversely, the interest in apigenin and theanine as sleep aids appears to be declining (Graphics 2).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col start=\"4\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAverage values by months\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the third and fifth months, melatonin-sleep, theanine-sleep, magnesium-sleep, zinc-sleep, apigenin-sleep, and sleep have experienced declines on average 10 months. It has been observed that other variables except ,chain-sleep have again experienced a decrease per month. 7. Elevations were observed in all variables per month (Graphics 3).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col start=\"5\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegression models\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe present study aims to examine the effects of variables such as \u0026apos;melatonin\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;magnesium\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;zinc\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;apigenin\u0026apos; and \u0026apos;theanine\u0026apos; on \u0026apos;sleep\u0026apos; by regression analysis, as obtained from Google Trends data. Gradient Boosting is a powerful ensemble method used to improve prediction accuracy in machine learning. This method works by sequentially training a set of simple models (usually decision trees). The efficacy of this approach is attributable to the sequential training of these models, with each new model enhancing overall performance by learning from the errors of the preceding model. Gradient Boosting methods have been demonstrated to be a powerful tool for this type of analysis, owing to their capacity to model linear and non-linear relationships. By unveiling the effects of independent variables on the target variable with greater precision, this approach provides valuable insights into the significance levels and effects of parameters (Graphics 4).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUpon visualizing the predictions derived from the regression analysis of the Catboost model, as determined by the metric success and the actual values, it is evident that the model captures the general pattern, yet predicts the values differently on average by 2.72, as evidenced by the MAE metric. Given that the objective of this project is to observe the effect of variables such as \u0026apos;melatonin\u0026apos;, magnesium, \u0026apos;zinc\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;apigenin\u0026apos;, and \u0026apos;theanine\u0026apos; on \u0026apos;sleep\u0026apos;, the model is successful in detecting the general pattern.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col start=\"6\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeature Importance\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis graph shows the importance of \u0026apos;melatonin\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;magnesium\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;zinc\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;apigenin\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;theanine\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;melatonin\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;magnesium\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;zinc\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;apigenin\u0026apos;, \u0026apos;theanine\u0026apos; used to predict the sleep variable in a regression model. This analysis helps to identify which traits are more critical in predicting the sleep variable. Each bar represents the contribution of that trait to the model, and the length of the bar represents the magnitude of the effect of that trait on the predictive power. In the graph, theanine and magnesium stand out as the most important traits, indicating that these two variables play a critical role in the model\u0026apos;s predictions. In addition, time-related factors such as melatonin, year, month, and season also make significant contributions to the model. Variables such as zinc and apigenin, which have lower levels of significance, have a more limited impact on the model results. (Graphics 5).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col start=\"7\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n \u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShap Values\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSHAP, an acronym for SHapley Additive exPlanations, is a method employed to elucidate the predictions of machine learning models, thereby facilitating comprehension of the rationale behind a model\u0026apos;s specific prediction.SHAP employs numerical calculation to express the effect of each feature (e.g. melatonin or magnesium) on the target variable, thereby enabling the discernment of the influence of traits on prediction.SHAP values signify whether a trait enhances or diminishes the prediction. Values positioned to the right of 0 represent positive effects, while those placed to the left represent negative effects. A positive SHAP value indicates that the feature increases the prediction value, whereas a negative SHAP value suggests that it decreases the prediction value.The vertical axis of the graph lists the features that were utilized in the model. The colors in the graph indicate low or high values of the features. Red (High) denotes high values of the feature and blue (Low) denotes low values. This graph assists in understanding which variable in the model exerts a more significant effect on the target variable, and whether this effect is positive or negative. Consequently, it facilitates the explanation and interpretation of the model\u0026apos;s predictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this study, the red dots for melatonin in the graph indicate that elevated levels of melatonin result in an increase in the model prediction, while blue dots signify that reduced levels of melatonin lead to a decrease in the prediction. The graph\u0026apos;s output suggests that an increase in theanine, melatonin, magnesium, and apigenin values increases the sleep variable, while a decrease in these values leads to a decrease in the sleep variable (Graphics 6).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col start=\"8\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n \u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSARIMAX Model: Seasonal Time Series Analysis and Forecasting\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SARIMAX model is a tool that can make robust forecasts on time series, especially those with seasonal patterns and exogenous factors.SARIMAX stands for Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average with Exogenous Variables, and its Turkish equivalent is Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average Model with Exogenous Variables. The model forecasts by analyzing seasonal patterns, trends, and the effects of exogenous variables in time series. The model is capable of detecting and incorporating recurrent patterns (e.g. seasons or annual cycles) into its analysis. Additionally, SARIMAX is not solely reliant on historical data; the incorporation of exogenous variables (e.g. weather, and economic indicators) enhances the accuracy of forecasts (Graphics 7).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the image above, using the SARIMAX model, 1-year forecasts of melatonin, sleep patterns, magnesium, zinc, apigenin, and theanine levels based on historical data are shown. When these predictions are analyzed, it is observed that while an increase in the popularity of apigenin is expected, the search trend of other parameters will continue with similar interest. Based on the seasonality, annual, and monthly cycles of each parameter, predictions are made for the next 12 months.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e9. One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey HSD (Honest Significant Difference)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study, which included the results of the one-way ANOVA (Variance Analysis) and Tukey HSD test, aimed to examine Google Trends data associated with certain parameters and whether the differences between groups were significant\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComparisons of melatonin and other sleep promoters over the last five years were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance. \u0026nbsp;The groups analyzed included categories such as melatonin, zinc, magnesium, theanine, apigenin, and sleep, and monthly measurements covering the last five years were used. According to this result, there was a significant difference between the groups in monthly measurements of search terms, F= 879.8, p\u0026lt;0.001. Tukey HSD test was used to analyze the differences between the groups. \u0026nbsp;According to the results of the Tukey HSD test, significant differences were found between all groups (p=0.001). For example, the apigenin category was found to have lower values compared to all other categories. The largest of these differences was 60.86 units between the apigenin and sleep categories. There was also a more moderate difference between the melatonin and magnesium categories (8.97 units). In addition, the difference between theanine and zinc categories was relatively small (4.97 units) and it was observed that these groups had more similar values than the others. As a result of the analysis, all confidence intervals did not contain zero, reinforcing the findings that there were significant differences between the groups. This shows that all analysed categories are different from each other.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e10. Spearman Correlation\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile Pearson correlation evaluates only linear relationships, Spearman correlation focuses on a broader type of relationship, i.e. ordinal relationships. For this reason, the relationship between the variables in the analysis was examined in the Spearman correlation. \u0026nbsp;Spearman correlation is calculated by transforming data points into ranks and Pearson correlation is applied over the ranks. Therefore, it provides a more stable measurement by reducing the effect of extreme outliers.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe correlation analysis revealed a near-perfect correlation between magnesium and theanine (r=.95). This suggests that these two supplements are strongly related to each other and may have similar effects when taken together. Similarly, the correlation coefficient between magnesium and sleep also indicates a positive and very high positive relationship (r=.80). Melatonin and sleep also showed a moderate positive correlation (r=0.54). This finding suggests that melatonin supplementation exerts an effect on sleep, but this effect may be more limited in comparison to other factors (e.g. magnesium).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRemarkably, the correlation coefficients between zinc and other variables are quite low and the relationship between zinc and sleep is almost negligible (r=.016). This may indicate that the effect of zinc supplementation on sleep is limited or overshadowed by other factors (Table 1).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe findings from the analysis of Google search trends highlight significant global interest in melatonin and other sleep supplements, reflecting a growing public concern about sleep quality and health. This study aimed to quantify and elucidate the temporal and regional dynamics of search behavior related to sleep supplements, providing valuable insights into public interest and its potential determinants. The terms chosen for the research were selected from supplements that have been identified in sleep medicine as sleep-promoting [16\u0026ndash;19]. Melatonin\u0026apos;s prominence as the most prevalent search term underscores its widespread recognition and utilization as a sleep supplement. The consistent increase in search volume for melatonin suggests an ongoing reliance on and trust in this supplement for managing sleep disorders. This trend may be attributed to melatonin\u0026apos;s well-documented efficacy and its relatively low-risk profile compared to prescription sleep medications. The hypothesis that these sleep supplements may be associated with an increase in sleep, possibly related to melatonin, was supported by the analysis results. The estimate is that about 20% of adults in the United States are regular users of prescription or over-the-counter sleep supplements [1]. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2023, there was a significant increase in the moving average of searches for sleep-related terms, which could be a sign of increased public attention to sleep health at that time. This surge could be linked to increased stress and sleep disturbances experienced globally due to various socio-economic factors, such as the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As in previous studies, the search terms related to melatonin were found to be related to the Covid-19 pandemic [20]. \u0026nbsp;A further analysis of the search results revealed that keywords related to \u0026quot;Covid\u0026quot; appeared among five queries related to melatonin. It is noteworthy that during the week of January 3-9, 2021, when melatonin searches peaked, the ongoing pandemic of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) had not yet reached its zenith, and vaccination programs had only just commenced [21]. For this reason, people may have seen the use of Melatonin as an alternative for protection from the disease or treatment in case of infection. Studies published before and after these dates have also stated that Melatonin can be used as an adjuvant treatment against COVID-19. [22,23]. It\u0026apos;s understandable that Covid-19 is the most commonly used screening term for this reason.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study shows the great impact of social media and news publications on current aesthetic trends and treatments. Magnesium is among the popular supplements for treating insomnia on social media [18]. Apigenin, magnesium, and theanine scans show that Andrew Huberman is effective. Search trends for all three sleep promoters include \u0026quot;Andrew Huberman\u0026quot; among the top five most relevant queries. Huberman, a neuroscientist, tweeted in 2021 about sleep supplements and published an article on his website describing the contribution of magnesium, theanine, and apigenin to sleep [24]. Despite a rise in the average of all melatonin and other sleep supplements in 2023, there is a possibility that the melatonin and magnesium variables will continue to increase in 2024. Interestingly, while the popularity of magnesium, zinc, melatonin, and sleep-related searches continued to rise post-2023, there was a decline in searches for apigenin and theanine. This shift may indicate changing public perceptions or emerging preferences for other sleep aids over these particular supplements. For this reason, it is important to continue to investigate the effects of melatonin and magnesium on sleep and their possible side effects in future studies and to demonstrate their effects on sleep quality. To increase public awareness of these issues, sleep-related websites must offer reliable information.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe correlation analysis revealed interesting associations between different sleep supplements. The strong positive relationship between magnesium and theanine suggests that these supplements are often sought together, possibly indicating a combined use for enhancing sleep quality. The weak correlation between zinc and sleep-related searches suggests that zinc\u0026apos;s potential benefits for sleep may be less prominent or less known to the public. The regression analysis further confirmed that increases in searches for theanine, melatonin, magnesium, and apigenin were associated with a corresponding rise in sleep-related queries. This finding underscores the potential impact of public interest in these supplements on overall sleep health awareness. It can be inferred that the interest of the public in specific sleep promoters is directly influenced by their attention to sleep health, as indicated by the decline in sleep-related searches during supplement queries.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGoogle Trends data analysis suggests that interest in melatonin and magnesium, especially in sleep-related searches, will continue in 2025, thus emphasizing that researchers should consider the use of melatonin and magnesium in interventions aimed at preventing sleep problems. Melatonin and magnesium are supplements that have been extensively studied, but there are conflicting results [1]. Looking forward, the predicted continued rise in the popularity of melatonin and magnesium in 2025 highlights the sustained importance of these supplements in the public\u0026apos;s approach to improving sleep. This trend suggests a potential area for further research and public health initiatives, focusing on the safe and effective use of these supplements to promote better sleep hygiene and overall health. In recent years, there have been studies in the literature where researchers have examined melatonin and magnesium together [25,26]. The study by Carlos and colleagues concluded that a melatonin-magnesium supplement in the form of coffee capsules can enhance sleep quality in healthy individuals with sleep disorders [25].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis research, based on Google Trends data, suggests that the public will continue to rely on sleep aids to improve their sleep quality or address potential sleep problems. Sleep specialists and physicians should inquire about their patients\u0026apos; use of such supplements when planning treatments and provide necessary information about sleep aids to the public. Further research is necessary to develop strategies to prevent the misuse of melatonin and other sleep supplements.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of public interest in melatonin and other sleep promoters, revealing key trends and correlations that could inform future research and public health strategies. The ongoing monitoring of search trends can offer valuable insights into evolving public perceptions and behaviors related to sleep health, ultimately aiding in the development of targeted interventions to address sleep-related issues.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLimitations and Strengths\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeveral limitations exist in the current study which is based on Google Trends data and all similar studies. Firstly, Google Trends data is limited to searches by online users in regions with free access to information and the Internet. Secondly, Internet access and usage vary significantly across different age groups, socio-economic statuses, and geographical locations. This variation raises concerns about potential biases in the data, as it represents Internet users and may not reflect the broader population. Consequently, the findings of the study may not fully represent the general population. Thirdly, there can be various reasons associated with changes in search behavior, as each search query could be influenced by increased media coverage, news reporting that sparks curiosity about specific topics, and individual curiosity among other factors. The study suggests that melatonin and other sleep supplements have a strong connection to sleep, but it does not examine the potential causes or factors that contribute to this connection.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom another perspective, Google search data can be considered advantageous for several reasons. Firstly, the data is updated in near real-time. Secondly, Google Trends data represents aggregated measurements of search activity and is therefore less vulnerable to small sample biases. Thirdly, search results are normalized by query time and location, facilitating easier comparisons between terms of interest. Fourthly, people\u0026apos;s searches on the Google engine reflect their uncensored desires and needs for information and are therefore free from many biases present in traditional self-report surveys [27]. Additionally, the choice of the English language in the study to obtain global data has strengthened the study\u0026apos;s generalizability.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNon-financial Disclosure\u003c/strong\u003e: None\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData Availability Statement:\u003c/strong\u003e All data can be freely obtained directly from Google Trends (https://trends.google.com/trends/).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEsquivel MK, Ghosn B. Current Evidence on Common Dietary Supplements for Sleep Quality. \u003cem\u003eAmerican Journal of Lifestyle Medicine\u003c/em\u003e. 2024;18(3):323-327. doi:10.1177/15598276241227915\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHardeland R, Pandi-Perumal SR, Cardinali DP. 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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health: Real-time surveillance using Google Trends. \u003cem\u003ePsychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy\u003c/em\u003e. 2020;12(6):567-568. doi:10.1037/tra0000872\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"},{"header":"Table","content":"\u003cp\u003eTable 1 is available in the Supplementary Files section.\u003c/p\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Melatonin, Apigenin, Zinc, Magnesium, Theanine, Google trends","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8148926/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8148926/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study aims to focus public attention on search terms that include melatonin and other sleep promoters based on information from the Google search engine, to analyze regional and seasonal trends and predict the public's interest in these supporters in the future.\" The global interest in \"melatonin\" and other sleep supplements was assessed through search volume analysis via the \"Subject\" search tool in Google Extended Trends for Health data. From December 22, 2019, to December 28, 2024, a thorough examination was carried out, targeting the keywords 'Melatonin', 'magnesium', 'zinc', 'theanine', and 'apigenin'. Data were analyzed using correlation and simple linear regression models, one-way ANOVA test, 5-year rolling mean analysis, and feature significance. Melatonin emerged as the most prevalent sleep promoter identified in global searches. The strongest relationship identified among the search terms was between magnesium and theanine, while the lowest relationship was between zinc and sleep. The year in which the moving average increased the most in the last five years was 2023. After 2023, the popularity of magnesium-sleep, zinc-sleep, melatonin-sleep, and sleep variables continued to increase, while the popularity of apigenin-sleep and theanine sleep parameters decreased. It was ascertained that the increase in theanine, melatonin, magnesium, and apigenin values in Google searches increased the sleep variable. In contrast, the decrease in these values led to a reduction in the sleep variable. It is predicted that the popularity of melatonin and magnesium will continue to increase in 2025, particularly concerning searches related to sleep.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Investigating Recent Digital Search Trends for Melatonin and Other Sleep-Enhancing Supplements and Their Link to Usage Patterns: A Google Trends Study","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-11-20 07:06:02","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8148926/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"6ced7ad3-e1c8-44bd-b578-7d30461dc678","owner":[],"postedDate":"November 20th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":58298041,"name":"Integrative \u0026 Complementary Medicine"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-11-20T07:06:02+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-11-20 07:06:02","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8148926","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8148926","identity":"rs-8148926","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}