Efficacy of melatonin for treatment and prevention of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: a systematic review

The purpose of this study was to systematically review the available literature evaluating the use of melatonin for preventing and treating neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). A systematic review of studies examining the effect of melatonin on neonatal NEC was conducted. The databases of Medline, Scopus, WOS, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for relevant studies. For risk of bias and applicability, The ROB2 tool was used for randomized controlled trials, and the ROBINS-I tool was used for non-randomized controlled trials. Three studies, comprising 106 preterm neonates, were included in the review, whose mean gestational ages ranged from 31.8 to 33.53 weeks. Melatonin doses varied among the studies. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study revealed that early administration of melatonin in preterm newborns resulted in a decrease in lipid peroxidation during the initial days of life. Two studies evaluated the role of melatonin in NEC. Both reported significant clinical and laboratory improvements in the melatonin groups, including reduced abdominal distension, metabolic acidosis, thrombocytopenia, hyponatremia, and lower mortality rates compared to control groups. This systematic review suggests that melatonin may be a potential therapeutic approach for NEC in preterm infants. However, further RCTS are needed to establish its therapeutic or preventive role.