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The effects of melatonin administration on disease severity and sleep quality in children with atopic dermatitis: A
Abbas Taghavi Ardakani1,2, Maryam Farrehi1,2, Mohammad Reza Sharif1,2
1Infectious Diseases Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
Insights
Melatonin supplements significantly improved disease severity and sleep quality in children with atopic dermatitis (AD). This study indicates melatonin is a beneficial treatment for managing AD symptoms and improving sleep in affected children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dermatology
- Sleep Medicine
- Clinical Immunology
Background:
- Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting children, often associated with sleep disturbances.
- Current treatments for AD may have limitations, necessitating exploration of novel therapeutic options.
- Melatonin, a hormone regulating sleep-wake cycles, is being investigated for its potential anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of melatonin supplementation in reducing disease severity in pediatric atopic dermatitis.
- To assess the impact of melatonin on sleep quality in children diagnosed with atopic dermatitis.
- To determine the effect of melatonin on serum total IgE levels and other inflammatory markers in children with AD.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial involving 70 children (aged 6-12 years) with AD.
- Participants received either 6 mg/day of melatonin or a placebo for six weeks.
- Disease severity was measured using Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) and objective SCORAD indices, while sleep quality was assessed via the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ).
Main Results:
- Melatonin supplementation significantly reduced SCORAD and objective SCORAD scores, indicating improved skin condition.
- A significant decrease in serum total IgE levels was observed in the melatonin group.
- Children receiving melatonin showed significant improvements in their Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) scores, suggesting better sleep quality.
Conclusions:
- Melatonin administration demonstrates beneficial effects on the overall disease severity of atopic dermatitis in children.
- Supplementation with melatonin positively impacts serum total IgE levels and improves sleep quality in pediatric patients with AD.
- Melatonin represents a promising therapeutic agent for managing atopic dermatitis and associated sleep issues in children.
Background:
The aim of this clinical trial was to determine the effects of melatonin administration on disease severity and sleep quality in children diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (AD).
Methods:
This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted by recruiting 70 patients, aged 6-12 years, who had been diagnosed with AD. Study participants were randomly allocated into two intervention groups to receive either 6 mg/d melatonin supplements or placebo (n = 35 each group) for 6 weeks. Severity of disease was assessed using the scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) and objective SCORAD indices. Sleep quality was evaluated by completing the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ).
Results:
Following 6 weeks of intervention, melatonin supplementation significantly improved SCORAD index (β -3.55; 95% CI, -6.11, -0.98; P = 0.007), objective SCORAD index (β -3.23; 95% CI, -5.08, -1.38; P = 0.001), serum total IgE levels (β -153.94 ku/L; 95% CI, -260.39, -47.49; P = 0.005), and CSHQ scores (β -2.55; 95% CI, -4.34, -0.75; P = 0.006). However, melatonin had no significant impact on pruritus scores, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), sleep-onset latency, total sleep time, weight, and BMI compared with placebo.
Conclusions:
Overall, melatonin supplementation had beneficial effects on disease severity, serum total IgE levels, and CSHQ among children diagnosed with AD.
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