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Clinical trial to test the efficacy of melatonin in COVID-19.

Journal of pineal research
October 1, 2020
Dario Acuña-Castroviejo et al. (6 authors)
Clinical Trial ProtocolJournal ArticleHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the efficacy and optimal dosing of an injectable melatonin formulation for treating COVID-19 in ICU patients.

Results Summary

The abstract highlights melatonin's potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and mitochondrial protective effects but notes a lack of clinical data on its use for SARS-CoV-2 infection. A clinical trial has been approved to assess melatonin's efficacy and dosing in COVID-19 patients.

Population

ICU patients suffering from COVID-19.

Effective Dosage

Not specified (injectable formulation for intravenous perfusion).

Duration

Not specified.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (4)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
melatonin
increase
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and mitochondrial protective effects
-
significant
has significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and mitochondrial protective effects
#1
melatonin
increase
sepsis
-
-
efficacy has been demonstrated
#2
melatonin
no change
efficacy, security, absence of side effects, effective doses
-
lack
lack of clinical trials that confirm the efficacy, security, absence of side effects in the short and long term, and the effective doses
#3
melatonin
no change
SARS-CoV-2 infection
-
lack
lack of experimental and clinical data on the use
#4
Abstract

The pharmacological properties of melatonin are well known. However, there is noticeable the lack of clinical trials that confirm the efficacy, security, absence of side effects in the short and long term, and the effective doses of melatonin. This point is especially important in diseases with high morbidity and mortality including COVID-19. There is not treatment for COVID-19, and several anti-inflammatory and antiviral molecules are being tested, and different vaccines are in preparation. Although the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is apparently improving, it is expected new resurges next fall. Thus, looking for an effective treatment of COVID-19 is mandatory. Melatonin has significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and mitochondrial protective effects, and its efficacy has been demonstrated in multiple experimental models of disease and in a clinical trial in sepsis. Because COVID-19 courses with a severe septic response, multiple reviews proposing melatonin as a treatment for COVID-19 have been published. Nevertheless, there is a lack of experimental and clinical data on the use of melatonin on SARS-CoV-2 infection. Accordingly, we designed a clinical trial with an injectable formulation of melatonin for intravenous perfusion in ICU patients suffering from COVID-19 that has been just approved by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS). The trial will allow by the first time understand the doses and efficacy of melatonin against COVID-19.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AntioxidantsBetacoronavirusCOVID-19Coronavirus InfectionsHumansInfusions, IntravenousMelatoninPandemicsPneumonia, ViralSARS-CoV-2COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy50/10
Quality70/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations54
Citations/Year10.8
Relative Citation Ratio3.46
NIH Percentile87.7%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.41
Normalized Score0.54
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Clinical trial to test the efficacy of melatonin in COVID-19... | Panacea Index