Effects of melatonin supplementation on serum oxidative stress markers and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Mohammadmahdi Nabatian-Asl and Amir Ghorbanihaghjo contributed equally to this work and should be considered as Co-first authors.
Aida Malek Mahdavi and Alireza Khabbazi contributed equally to this work and should be considered as Co-corresponding authors.
Funding information
The authors are thankful to the Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran for financial help
Abstract
Background
Considering pathological significance of oxidative stress in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), current research aimed to evaluate the effects of melatonin supplementation on oxidative stress markers and disease activity in SLE.
Method
In this randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 32 SLE females were selected and randomly assigned into two groups to take 10 mg/day melatonin or placebo for 12 weeks. Before and after trial, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured and disease activity was determined by Systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K).
Results
Twenty-five patients (13 in the melatonin and 12 in the placebo groups) completed the trial. Melatonin supplementation caused significant reduction in serum MDA compared with baseline (P = .003) and placebo group (P = .004). Serum TAC level did not change significantly in the melatonin group compared with baseline and placebo group (P > .05). Furthermore, melatonin supplementation did not cause significant change in disease activity compared to baseline and placebo group (P > .05).
Conclusion
What's known
Free radical damage and oxidative stress has a remarkable function in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis. Products derived from oxidative modification cascades are found in biological fluids and their redundancy has a correlation with disease activity and organ damage in SLE. Dietary supplements, which decrease oxidative stress, would be useful in managing SLE. Melatonin is a potent antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory characteristics. Limited in vitro and animal studies are available indicating desirable effects of melatonin in preventing from SLE organ damage, thereby opening a new area of investigation that can contribute to using melatonin as a therapy or co-therapy for SLE.
What's new
Melatonin supplementation caused significant reduction in serum MDA compared with baseline and placebo group. Serum TAC level did not change significantly in the melatonin group compared with baseline and placebo group. Furthermore, melatonin supplementation did not cause significant change in disease activity compared to baseline and placebo group.
DISCLOSURES
The authors declared that they had no conflicts of interests.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
Data available on request from the authors. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
