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Efficacy on sleep parameters and tolerability of melatonin in individuals with sleep or mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews
August 1, 2022
Matthew Salanitro et al. (7 authors)
Journal ArticleMeta-AnalysisReviewSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Extracted Claims (6)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
melatonin
decrease
sleep onset latency
children and adolescents with a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders
-
significantly improved
#1
melatonin
increase
total sleep time
children and adolescents with a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders
-
significantly improved
#2
melatonin
no change
sleep awaking
children and adolescents with a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders
-
not improved
#3
melatonin
decrease
sleep onset latency (measured by diary)
adults with delayed sleep phase disorder
-
significantly improved
#4
melatonin
increase
total sleep time (measured with polysomnography)
adults with delayed sleep phase disorder
-
significantly improved
#5
melatonin
no change
tolerability
-
-
no evidence of significant differences
#6
Abstract

We conducted the first systematic review and series of meta-analyses to assess the efficacy and tolerability of melatonin in children/adolescents or adults with sleep or mental health disorders, using the same set of criteria across disorders and ages. Based on a pre-registered protocol (PROPSPERO: CRD42021289827), we searched a broad range of electronic databases up to 02.02.2021 for randomized control trials (RCTs) of melatonin. We assessed study quality using the Risk of Bias tool, v2. We included a total of 34 RCTs (21 in children/adolescents: N = 984; 13 in adults: N = 1014). We found evidence that melatonin significantly improved sleep onset latency and total sleep time, but not sleep awaking, in children and adolescents with a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders, and sleep onset latency (measured by diary) as well as total sleep time (measured with polysomnography) in adults with delayed sleep phase disorder. No evidence of significant differences between melatonin and placebo was found in terms of tolerability. We discuss clinical and research implications of our findings.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdolescentChildHumansMelatoninNeurodevelopmental DisordersSleepSleep Wake Disorders
Study Links
Citation Metrics
Total Citations23
Citations/Year7.7
Relative Citation Ratio4.09
NIH Percentile90.5%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
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