Melatonin and the metabolic syndrome: a tool for effective therapy in obesity‐associated abnormalities?

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities associated with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Apart from its powerful antioxidant properties, the pineal gland hormone melatonin has recently attracted the interest of various investigators as a multifunctional molecule. Melatonin has been shown to have beneficial effects in cardiovascular disorders including ischaemic heart disease and hypertension. However, its role in cardiovascular risk factors including obesity and other related metabolic abnormalities is not yet established, particularly in humans. New emerging data show that melatonin may play an important role in body weight regulation and energy metabolism. This review will address the role of melatonin in the MetS focusing on its effects in obesity, insulin resistance and leptin resistance. The overall findings suggest that melatonin should be exploited as a therapeutic tool to prevent or reverse the harmful effects of obesity and its related metabolic disorders.

Beneficial effects of melatonin on serum nitric oxide, homocysteine, and ADMA levels in fructose-fed rats

“…Melatonin therapy was reported to induce glucose transport in skeletal muscle via phosphorilation and activation of the molecules involved in the signalling cascade. In addition, it was demonstrated to improve glucose homeostasis by restoring the vascular effect of insulin (Nduhirabandi et al, 2012). Melatonin also carries out its regulatory effect on insulin levels by inhibiting insulin release via effecting MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptors found in pancreatic b-cells (Muhlbauer et al, 2012).…”

“…However, melatonin treatment did not have a positive effect on serum triglyceride and VLDL-cholesterol levels. Previous studies proposed several mechanisms to explain the blood pressure lowering effect of melatonin, such as sympathetic nervous system depression, anti-adrenergic effects, and effects on NO bioavailability (Leibowitz et al, 2008;Nduhirabandi et al, 2012). Melatonin is a hormone which is closely related to the regulation of insulin secretion and glucose/lipid metabolism.…”

Wydzielanie serotoniny i melatoniny u kobiet po menopauzie z zaburzeniami odżywiania

“…For this reason, a lot of authors suggest using melatonin in therapeutic procedures in obesity [40,41].…”

Interactions between endocrine and circadian systems

“…The melatonin receptors belong to the Ga i /q i -protein-coupled receptor superfamily (Barrett & Bolborea 2012). Owing to the widespread expression of melatonin receptors, melatonin has been reported to modulate several physiological systems such as immune function (Srinivasan et al 2011), metabolism (Nduhirabandi et al 2012), and higher brain functions (Srinivasan et al 2012). In birds and reptiles, the pineal-melatonin system is an essential part of the circadian clockwork (Gaston & Menaker 1968, Tosini & Menaker 1998.…”