SynthesisInflammopharmacology2023
Clinical efficacy and safety of melatonin supplementation in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review.
Synthesis in Inflammopharmacology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- Polymorphisms in CLOCK and ARNTL/BMAL-1 genes in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of medical research · 2026Pooled it
- The Association Between Serum α-Tocopherol and Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies.BioMed research international · 2026Pooled it
- Sleep and cognitive outcomes in multiple sclerosis; a systematic review.BMC psychiatry · 2024Pooled it
- The effects of melatonin supplementation on neurobehavioral outcomes and clinical severity in rodent models of multiple sclerosis; a systematic review and meta-analysis.Inflammopharmacology · 2024Pooled it
- Trial
- Oxidative stress, depressive symptoms, disability, cognitive outcomes and hand dexterity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients with mild/moderate disability.IBRO neuroscience reports · 2026Article
- Biogeochemical Evaluation of Shilajit: Testosterone-Modulating Effects, In Vivo Toxicity and Lipid Profile Analysis.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Fatigue and contributing factors in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a descriptive study based on the comprehensive fatigue assessment battery for multiple sclerosis (CFAB-MS).Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026Article
- The correlation between serum markers of oxidative stress and fatigue and related factors in minimally disabled patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Melatonin supplementation: new insights into health and disease.Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung · 2025Review
- Protective Activity of Melatonin Combinations and Melatonin-Based Hybrid Molecules in Neurodegenerative Diseases.Journal of pineal research · 2024Review
- The refined Pathways to Cures Research Roadmap for multiple sclerosis cures.Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England) · 2024Article
- Modulation of neural circuits by melatonin in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders.Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2024Review
- Protective Effects of Melatonin against Carcinogen-Induced Oxidative Damage in the Thyroid.Cancers · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMelatonin is a neurohormone secreted predominantly by the pineal gland that is demonstrated to be associated with the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). This research desires to evaluate the tolerability and beneficial effects of exogenous melatonin supplementations in patients with MS.
methodsThis study was executed following the PRISMA 2020 statement. Both observational and interventional studies which reported the clinical effectiveness and/or safety of melatonin supplementation in patients with MS were included in this systematic review. Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched and the risk of bias in included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools based on study design.
resultsOut of 1304 results of database searches, finally, 14 articles, including 7 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 6 case-control studies, and one quasi-experimental study, were included based on the full-text review. Included phenotypes of MS were mostly relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) (in 11 studies); it was secondary progressive MS (SPMS) in only one study, and two other studies had a mixture of the different phenotypes. The course of treatment with melatonin supplementation was between 2 weeks and 12 months. There were no substantial safety issues. Although melatonin was associated with enhanced oxidative stress and inflammation status, concerning the clinical benefits, limited studies suggested improvements in sleep conditions, cognitive outcomes, and fatigue in MS. DISCUSSION: There are insufficient data to support the regular melatonin prescription in MS. Limitations such as the small number of included studies, the diversity of the dosage, route, and duration of melatonin administration, and the diversity of assessment tests lead to unconvincing findings in this study. There is a need for future studies to achieve a comprehensive judgment on this subject.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.