Apigenin supplements are a clinically proven sleep aid
MisleadingThe Claim
Apigenin, the flavonoid in chamomile, is widely recommended online as a proven supplement for falling asleep and sleeping deeper.
Origin
The claim was popularized by podcast sleep stacks and rests on animal sedation studies and the traditional use of chamomile tea.
What Science Says
Evidence for apigenin's sedative effects comes from animal studies; human data come from chamomile extracts, which contain apigenin among other compounds. A 2024 meta-analysis of 10 chamomile trials (772 participants) found a modest improvement in PSQI sleep quality score (−1.88 points) but no improvement in sleep duration, sleep efficiency or daytime functioning, and a 2019 meta-analysis found only one RCT on insomnia, which showed no significant change in insomnia severity.
Verdict
Misleading
Sources
- PMID:38476603 Apigenin: a natural molecule at the intersection of sleep and aging.
- PMID:39106912 Effects of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.
- PMID:31006899 Therapeutic efficacy and safety of chamomile for state anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, and sleep quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials and quasi-randomized trials.