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COVID-19: Melatonin as a potential adjuvant treatment.

Life sciences
January 1, 1970
Rui Zhang et al. (8 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of melatonin in mitigating COVID-19 severity by examining its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and immune-modulating properties.

Results Summary

The study suggests melatonin may help reduce excessive inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune overreaction in COVID-19, potentially preventing acute lung injury and improving clinical outcomes. However, further clinical studies are needed to confirm these effects.

Population

COVID-19 patients and critical care patients (generalized based on pathogenesis and prior evidence).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (8)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
melatonin
decrease
ALI/ARDS
patients with viral and other pathogens
-
is protective against
#1
melatonin
decrease
vessel permeability
critical care patients
-
reducing
#2
melatonin
decrease
anxiety
critical care patients
-
reducing
#3
melatonin
decrease
sedation use
critical care patients
-
reducing
#4
melatonin
increase
sleeping quality
critical care patients
-
improving
#5
melatonin
increase
clinical outcomes
COVID-19 patients
-
might also be beneficial for better clinical outcomes
#6
melatonin
decrease
virus-related diseases
-
-
limits
#7
melatonin
decrease
COVID-19
COVID-19 patients
-
would also likely be beneficial
#8
Abstract

This article summarizes the likely benefits of melatonin in the attenuation of COVID-19 based on its putative pathogenesis. The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has become a pandemic with tens of thousands of infected patients. Based on clinical features, pathology, the pathogenesis of acute respiratory disorder induced by either highly homogenous coronaviruses or other pathogens, the evidence suggests that excessive inflammation, oxidation, and an exaggerated immune response very likely contribute to COVID-19 pathology. This leads to a cytokine storm and subsequent progression to acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and often death. Melatonin, a well-known anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative molecule, is protective against ALI/ARDS caused by viral and other pathogens. Melatonin is effective in critical care patients by reducing vessel permeability, anxiety, sedation use, and improving sleeping quality, which might also be beneficial for better clinical outcomes for COVID-19 patients. Notably, melatonin has a high safety profile. There is significant data showing that melatonin limits virus-related diseases and would also likely be beneficial in COVID-19 patients. Additional experiments and clinical studies are required to confirm this speculation.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Acute Lung InjuryAdjuvants, ImmunologicAnti-Inflammatory AgentsAntioxidantsBetacoronavirusCOVID-19Coronavirus InfectionsCytokinesHumansImmunomodulationInflammationMelatoninPandemicsPneumonia, ViralRespiratory Distress SyndromeSARS-CoV-2COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy70/10
Quality60/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations389
Citations/Year77.8
Relative Citation Ratio26.99
NIH Percentile99.7%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score0.90
Normalized Score0.74
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COVID-19: Melatonin as a potential adjuvant treatment. | Panacea Index