Title:Melatonin and its Relationships with Diabetes and Obesity: A Literature Review
Volume: 17
Issue: 7
Author(s): Ana V.G. Ramirez*, Durval R. Filho and Larissa B.P. Cunha de Sá
Affiliation:
- Clinic Ana Valeria (CAV)- Clinic of Nutrition and Health Science, Street Antônio José Martins Filho, 300, Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP, 15092-230,Brazil
Keywords:
Melatonin. diabetes. obesity. metabolism. clinical study. systematic review, T2DM.
Abstract: Background: Obesity is an important clinical entity, causing many public health issues.
Around two billion people in the world are overweight and obese. Almost 40% of American adults are
obese and Brazil has about 18 million obese people. Nowadays, 415 million people have diabetes,
around 1 in every 11 adults. These numbers will rise to 650 million people within 20 years. Melatonin
shows a positive profile on the regulation of the metabolism of the human body.
Objective: This study aimed to carry out a broad narrative review of the metabolic profile and associations
between melatonin, diabetes and obesity.
Methods: Article reviews, systematic reviews, prospective studies, retrospective studies, randomized,
double-blind, and placebo-controlled trials in humans recently published were selected and analyzed. A
total of 368 articles were collated and submitted to the eligibility analysis. Subsequently, 215 studies
were selected to compose the content part of the paper, and 153 studies composed the narrative review.
Results: Studies suggest a possible role of melatonin in metabolic diseases such as obesity, T2DM and
metabolic syndrome. Intervention studies using this hormone in metabolic diseases are still unclear regarding
the possible benefit of it. There is so far no consensus about the possible role of melatonin as
an adjuvant in the treatment of metabolic diseases. More studies are necessary to define possible risks
and benefits of melatonin as a therapeutic agent.