A Pilot Study on Controlling Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Inflammation Using Melatonin Supplement
Alizadeh et al., Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Alizadeh et al., A Pilot Study on Controlling Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Inflammation Using Melatonin Supplement, Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Abstract: BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol
In press.
A Pilot Study on Controlling Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Inflammation Using Melatonin Supplement
Zahra Alizadeh1, Nastaran Keyhanian2, Sara Ghaderkhani2, Simin Dashti-Khavidaki3, Raheleh Shokouhi Shoormasti1,
and Zahra Pourpak1
1
Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2
Department of Infectious Diseases, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University
of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3
Department of Pharmacology, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University
of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Received: 2 January 2021; Received in revised form: 1 April 2021; Accepted: 10 April 2021
ABSTRACT
No effective antiviral drugs and vaccines are available for the treatment of patients with
severe coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, available, safe, and inexpensive drugs and
supplements such as melatonin are among the proposed options for controlling inflammation.
We did a randomized, single-blind study in Imam Khomeini Hospital between June 30,
2020, and August 5, 2020. Mild to moderate COVID-19 patients aged 25-65 years were
eligible to enter the study based on chest CT scan, clinical symptoms, and physician diagnosis.
The intervention group was prescribed 6 mg of oral melatonin for 2 weeks, which consumed
half an hour before bedtime every night in low light conditions. Clinical symptoms and Creactive protein (CRP) were measured before and after treatment in the melatonin received
and control (regular medications) groups. among screened patients with COVID-19, 14
patients were assigned to receive melatonin, and 17 patients were considered as controls.
A significant difference (p=0.005) between CRP 1 and CRP 2 levels (before and after using
melatonin) was found in the melatonin group while this difference (p=0.069) was not significant
in the control group. Also, the percentage of recovery (based on symptoms) in patients who
took melatonin was higher than that of patients in the control group (85.7% VS 47.1%).
The result of this study confirmed the effectiveness of melatonin in mild to moderate
outpatients with COVID-19. More clinical trials on elderly, diabetic, obese patients and
severe cases are suggested in future studies.
Keywords: COVID-19; Inflammation; Melatonin
Corresponding Author: Zahra Alizadeh, PhD;
Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Tel: (+98 912) 7184
258, Fax: (+98 21) 6642 8995, E-mail: z-Alizadehs@farabi.tums.ac.ir
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