Melatonin-mediated actions and circadian functions that improve implantation, fetal health and pregnancy outcome.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate melatonin's role in protecting against oxidative stress and improving pregnancy outcomes by mitigating common disorders like preeclampsia, fetal growth retardation, and premature delivery.
Results Summary
Melatonin was found to reduce oxidative stress and improve pregnancy outcomes by protecting the placenta and fetus, as well as synchronizing circadian rhythms disrupted during pregnancy. Experimental supplementation showed reduced frequency and severity of pregnancy-related disorders.
Population
Pregnant individuals and fetal development.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin | decrease | oxidative stress and common pathophysiological disorders | during implantation, gestation and fetal development | - | resist oxidative stress and protect against common pathophysiological disorders | #1 |
melatonin | decrease | stillborn fetus, recurrent fetal loss, preeclampsia, fetal growth retardation, premature delivery, and fetal teratology | pregnancy | - | reduce the frequency or severity | #2 |
melatonin | decrease | consequences of chronodisruption | postnatally | - | has circadian rhythm synchronizing actions to overcome the consequences | #3 |
melatonin | decrease | experimental placental, fetal, and maternal pathologies | pregnancy | - | protect against experimental placental, fetal, and maternal pathologies | #4 |
melatonin | decrease | fertilized oocyte from oxidative damage | fertilized oocyte | - | highly protective | #5 |
This review summarizes data related to the potential importance of the ubiquitously functioning antioxidant, melatonin, in resisting oxidative stress and protecting against common pathophysiological disorders that accompany implantation, gestation and fetal development. Melatonin from the maternal pineal gland, but also trophoblasts in the placenta, perhaps in the mitochondria, produce this molecule as a hedge against impairment of the uteroplacental unit. We also discuss the role of circadian disruption on reproductive disorders of pregnancy. The common disorders of pregnancy, i.e., stillborn fetus, recurrent fetal loss, preeclampsia, fetal growth retardation, premature delivery, and fetal teratology are all conditions in which elevated oxidative stress plays a role and experimental supplementation with melatonin has been shown to reduce the frequency or severity of these conditions. Moreover, circadian disruption often occurs during pregnancy and has a negative impact on fetal health; conversely, melatonin has circadian rhythm synchronizing actions to overcome the consequences of chronodisruption which often appear postnatally. In view of the extensive findings supporting the ability of melatonin, an endogenously-produced and non-toxic molecule, to protect against experimental placental, fetal, and maternal pathologies, it should be given serious consideration as a supplement to forestall the disorders of pregnancy. Until recently, the collective idea was that melatonin supplements should be avoided during pregnancy. The data summarized herein suggests otherwise. The current findings coupled with the evidence, published elsewhere, showing that melatonin is highly protective of the fertilized oocyte from oxidative damage argues in favor of its use for improving pregnancy outcome generally.