The anti-inflammatory effects of melatonin on obesity: a literature review

  • Caroline Prochnow Médica, Especialização em Nutrologia, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo. Ribeirão Preto-SP, Brasil.
  • Liane Gonçalves Borges Médica Nutróloga, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Complementação Especializada em Nutrologia na USP de Ribeirão Preto e Professora do Curso de Especialização Lato Sensu Nutrologia USP
  • Vivian Marques Miguel Suen Doutora em Medicina, Clínica Médica-FMRP/USP, Docente da FMRP, Coordenadora do Curso de Especialização em Nutrologia, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade
  • Heitor Bernardes Pereira Delfino Doutor em Medicina, Clínica Médica-FMRP/USP, Docente do Curso de Especialização em Nutrologia, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto-SP, Brasil.
Keywords: Obesity, Inflammation, Adipose tissue, Melatonina, Oxidative stress

Abstract

multifactorial etiology responsible for generating a state of subclinical chronic inflammation. Melatonin, a hormone physiologically produced by the pineal gland, has been widely studied for its anti-inflammatory effect in several diseases. Objective: To analyze the anti-inflammatory effects of melatonin supplementation in the treatment of obesity. Materials and Methods: This narrative review was carried out through a bibliographic survey, using the digital databases Pubmed, Scielo, Lilacs, Google Scholar and CAPES Periodicals. Results: A double-blind randomized study evaluated 44 women with obesity, who were randomly divided into a group that used melatonin (n=22) and another group that used placebo (n=22). It was observed that only the group of patients who used melatonin showed a significant reduction in the serum concentrations of inflammatory markers such as TNF alpha, IL-6, hsCRP and MDA. Another randomized double-blind study analyzed 30 patients with obesity who were randomized into 2 groups, group 1 (n=15) received 10 mg of melatonin and group 2 (n=15) received placebo. With melatonin supplementation, concentrations of adiponectin omentin 1 and GPx (antioxidant enzyme) increased significantly, while levels of MDA (marker of oxidative stress) decreased significantly. Conclusion: Although clinical studies on this topic are scarce and the existing ones have a small sample number, the results so far have demonstrated the effectiveness of melatonin in counterbalancing the deleterious effects of excess adipose tissue.

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Published
2022-11-17
How to Cite
Prochnow, C., Borges, L. G., Suen, V. M. M., & Delfino, H. B. P. (2022). The anti-inflammatory effects of melatonin on obesity: a literature review. Brazilian Journal of Obesity, Nutrition and Weight Loss, 16(101), 409-418. Retrieved from https://www.rbone.com.br/index.php/rbone/article/view/2000
Section
Scientific Articles - Review