Melatonin Supplementation Improves Cognitive Function in Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder linked to cognitive impairment due to glucose and lipid metabolism dysregulation.
• Glycemic dysregulation is a potentially reversible risk factor for impaired cognition in diabetic patients.
• Cognitive function assessment in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients is crucial for understanding disease impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of melatonin supplementation on cognitive function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• To assess changes in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores as a primary measure of cognitive improvement.
• To examine the impact of melatonin on key metabolic markers, including HbA1C, LDL-c, CRP, and uric acid.

Main Methods:

• A single-blinded, quasi-experimental study involving 154 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and mild to moderate cognitive impairment (MoCA scores 10-25).
• Participants received either 5 mg oral melatonin or a placebo daily for three months.
• Cognitive function (MoCA) and biochemical markers were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks.

Main Results:

• The melatonin group showed a significant improvement in MoCA scores compared to the placebo group (p=0.016).
• Melatonin supplementation led to significant reductions in HbA1C (p=0.008) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (p=0.004) compared to placebo.
• No significant effects of melatonin were observed on LDL-c or serum uric acid levels.

Conclusions:

• Melatonin supplementation significantly improves cognitive function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, as indicated by MoCA scores.
• Melatonin therapy also effectively reduces HbA1C and CRP levels in diabetic patients.
• Melatonin shows promise as an adjunctive therapy for enhancing cognition and metabolic parameters in individuals with type 2 diabetes.