Melatonin in food allergy: Mechanism and potential therapy.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review melatonin's potential impacts on food allergy and its underlying regulatory mechanisms, exploring its role in immune system modulation and circadian rhythm regulation.
Results Summary
The study suggests melatonin may influence immune cell differentiation and function, potentially regulating food allergies through circadian rhythm modulation, but clinical outcomes and direct effects remain under investigation.
Population
Patients with allergic diseases (general reference, no specific demographic details provided).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin | neutral | allergic diseases | patients with allergic diseases | - | might impact | #1 |
melatonin | neutral | differentiation and function of immune cells | - | - | can orchestrate | #2 |
melatonin | neutral | immune system | - | - | may also act indirectly on | #3 |
melatonin | neutral | food allergies | - | - | to regulate | #4 |
Food allergy affects more than 500 million people in the world, and its prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate causing serious public health concerns; however, prevention and treatment methods are still under investigation and are relatively scarce so far. Insights on pathophysiology reveal a complex interplay of the immune cells (e.g., DCs, T cells, and B cells) resulting in allergy or tolerance. Studies have shown that melatonin metabolisms are altered in patients with allergic diseases, suggesting that melatonin might impact allergic diseases. Notably, melatonin can orchestrate the differentiation and function of immune cells. Additionally, the disease severities of many allergic diseases and the function of the immune system exhibit circadian rhythmicity. Therefore, melatonin, a rhythm regulator, may also act indirectly on the immune system through the circadian clock to regulate food allergies. Herein, we reviewed the impacts of melatonin on food allergy and its underlying regulatory mechanisms, providing a theoretical reference for melatonin as effective means of prevention and treatment for food allergy in the future.