Expression of Concern: The effects of melatonin supplementation on mental health, metabolic and genetic profiles in patients under methadone maintenance treatment

Abstract

This investigation was designed to determine the effect of melatonin supplementation on mental health parameters, metabolic and genetic profiles in patients under methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial was conducted among 54 patients under MMT. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either 10 mg melatonin (2 melatonin capsules, 5 mg each) (n = 26) or placebo (n = 28) once a day, 1 hour before bedtime for 12 weeks. Melatonin supplementation significantly decreased Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (β -4.08; 95 percent CI, -5.51, -2.65; P < 0.001), Beck Depression Inventory index (β -5.46; 95% CI, -8.92, -2.00; P = 0.003) and Beck Anxiety Inventory index (β -3.87; 95% CI, -5.96, -1.77; P = 0.001) and significantly increased International Index of Erectile Functions (β 5.59; 95% CI, 1.76, 9.42; P = 0.005) compared with the placebo. Subjects who received melatonin supplements had significantly lower serum insulin levels (β -2.53; 95% CI, -4.48, -0.59; P = 0.01), homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (β -0.56; 95% CI, -1.03, -0.09; P = 0.01) and higher quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (β 0.01; 95% CI, 0.004, 0.02; P = 0.009) and HDL-cholesterol levels (β 3.71; 95% CI, 1.77, 5.64; P = 0.002) compared to placebo. Additionally, melatonin intake resulted in a significant reduction in serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (β -0.15; 95% CI, -0.27, -0.02; P = 0.02), malondialdehyde (β -0.31; 95% CI, -0.57, -0.05; P = 0.02) and protein carbonyl (β -0.06; 95% CI, -0.09, -0.04; P < 0.001). This trial indicated that taking melatonin supplements for 12 weeks by patients under MMT had beneficial effects on their mental health metabolic profiles.

Melatonin and morphine: potential beneficial effects of co‐use

“…Furthermore, opioid‐dependent subjects treated with methadone possess enhanced oxidative stress markers, leading to DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and cellular apoptosis [76,77]. The effect of melatonin supplementation has been investigated on genetic and metabolic profiles, and mental health parameters in patients under MMT [78]. Melatonin treatment (10 mg/day for 12 weeks) remarkably reduced Beck Anxiety Inventory index, Beck Depression Inventory index and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and markedly enhanced International Index of Erectile Functions in comparison to placebo.…”

“…Moreover, melatonin significantly decreased protein carbonyl, malondialdehyde, and high sensitivity C‐reactive protein. Consequently, this study demonstrated that melatonin supplementation had beneficial impacts on metabolic profiles and mental health of patients under MMT [78]. Borazan et al evaluated the effectiveness of melatonin in postoperative sleep quality, sedation, and analgesic indices in patients who underwent elective prostatectomy.…”

Clinical and metabolic responses to crocin in patients under methadone maintenance treatment: A randomized clinical trial

“…MMT is usually linked into some complications including anxiety and depression (Callaly et al, ; Ghaderi et al, ; Yin et al, ). Nutritional status and dietary administration of subjects are important factors affecting the development of psychiatric and mental health disturbance (Lim et al, ).…”

The Mystery behind the Pineal Gland: Melatonin Affects the Metabolism of Cholesterol

“…All these increases in cholesterol were significantly reduced by melatonin; however, the highest degree of eucholesterolaemic action of melatonin was observed when it was used together with lipoic acid [3]. Similarly, melatonin can inhibit health-threatening shifts in lipoprotein profile induced by other drugs, like methadone and antipsychotics, or toxic compounds, including aluminium [4–6].…”