Therapeutic Efficacy of Melatonin in Patients with Coronavirus 2019: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

  • Kamran Bagheri Lankarani Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
  • Maryam Akbari Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
  • Reza Homayounfar National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • Reza Tabrizi Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Science, Fasa, Iran; Clinical Research Development Unit, Fasa University of Medical Science, Fasa, Iran; USERN Office, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
  • Mohebat Vali Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
  • Mohamad- Reza Zakeri Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
  • Mojtaba Farjam Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Science, Fasa, Iran
  • Mahmoud Khodadost Department of Public Health, School of Health, Larestan University of Medical Sciences, Larestan, Iran
  • Fariba Ahmadizar Department of Data Science and Biostatistics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31661/gmj.v11i.2562
Keywords: Coronavirus 2019, Melatonin, Mortality, C-reactive Protein

Abstract

The efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of patients with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is controversial. This review has summarized the evidence on the efficacy of oral melatonin compared to placebo in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection. We searched four international online databases and all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that investigated the effects of melatonin compared with the placebo on clinical outcomes, including mortality, discharge time, O2 saturation (SaO2), and c-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with COVID-19 infection, were included. The standard random-effects model with hybrid continuity correction was used to pool the risk ratio (RR), weighted mean difference (WMD), and the I2 index to assess the heterogeneity. A total of 272 patients from five RCTs were included. Our meta-analysis showed melatonin compared to placebo, decreased discharge time (WMD=-0.93 days; 95% confidence interval [CI]:-2.94 to 1.07, P=0.36; I2=56.78%) and the risk of mortality (RR=0.72; 95% CI:0.25 to 2.13, P=0.56; I2=0.0%) in COVID-19 patients. Melatonin intake compared to placebo significantly increased SaO2 (WMD=1.38%; 95% CI:0.09 to 2.68, P=0.04; I2=49.82%) and decreased the CRP levels (WMD=-7.24 mg/l; 95% CI:-11.28 to -3.21, P<0.001) in a sensitivity analysis. Our findings showed the efficacy of melatonin compared to placebo in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection.

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Published
2022-12-20
How to Cite
Bagheri Lankarani , K., Akbari , M., Homayounfar, R., Tabrizi , R., Vali , M., Zakeri , M.- R., Farjam, M., Khodadost, M., & Ahmadizar , F. (2022). Therapeutic Efficacy of Melatonin in Patients with Coronavirus 2019: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials . Galen Medical Journal, 11, e2562. https://doi.org/10.31661/gmj.v11i.2562
Issue
Vol. 11 (2022): 2022
Section
Review Article

Copyright (c) 2022 Galen Medical Journal

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