Melatonin use during pregnancy and lactation: A scoping review of human studies
- PMID: 34730672
- PMCID: PMC9169489
- DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2021-2156
Melatonin use during pregnancy and lactation: A scoping review of human studies
Abstract
Objective: The prevalence of sleep disorders during the perinatal period is high and large health administrative database surveys have shown that the use of exogenous melatonin in pregnant populations is quite common, about 4%. Much of the concern about using melatonin during pregnancy and breastfeeding stems from animal research. Thus, the objective of this article is to provide a critical review of human studies related to exogenous melatonin use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Methods: The electronic databases Ovid, MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched using terms and keywords related to melatonin, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.
Results: Fifteen studies were included in this review. Eight focused on melatonin use during pregnancy and seven focused on melatonin use during breastfeeding. There was a variety of study designs, including case reports, cohort studies, and clinical trials. There is a lack of randomized, controlled trials examining the efficacy and safety of melatonin as a treatment for sleep disorders during pregnancy or breastfeeding and, notably, insomnia was not the primary outcome measure in any of the studies included in this review. Clinical trials that used exogenous melatonin during pregnancy and breastfeeding for other clinical conditions have not suggested major safety concerns or adverse events.
Conclusion: Contrary to what animal studies have suggested, evidence from clinical studies to date suggests that melatonin use during pregnancy and breastfeeding is probably safe in humans. This review further emphasizes the need for clinical studies on sleep disorders, including exogenous melatonin, during pregnancy and lactation.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
Similar articles
-
Adverse Events Associated with Melatonin for the Treatment of Primary or Secondary Sleep Disorders: A Systematic Review.CNS Drugs. 2019 Dec;33(12):1167-1186. doi: 10.1007/s40263-019-00680-w. CNS Drugs. 2019. PMID: 31722088
-
Melatonin: therapeutic use in sleep disorders.Ann Pharmacother. 1997 Oct;31(10):1218-26. doi: 10.1177/106002809703101015. Ann Pharmacother. 1997. PMID: 9337448 Review.
-
The efficacy and safety of exogenous melatonin for primary sleep disorders. A meta-analysis.J Gen Intern Med. 2005 Dec;20(12):1151-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2005.0243.x. J Gen Intern Med. 2005. PMID: 16423108 Free PMC article.
-
Efficacy and safety of melatonin for sleep onset insomnia in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Sleep Med. 2020 Apr;68:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2019.02.017. Epub 2019 Mar 9. Sleep Med. 2020. PMID: 31982807
-
Evidence for the efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of primary adult sleep disorders.Sleep Med Rev. 2017 Aug;34:10-22. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2016.06.005. Epub 2016 Jul 20. Sleep Med Rev. 2017. PMID: 28648359 Review.
Cited by
-
Melatonin Use during Pregnancy and Lactation Complicated by Oxidative Stress: Focus on Offspring's Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health in Animal Models.Antioxidants (Basel). 2024 Feb 12;13(2):226. doi: 10.3390/antiox13020226. Antioxidants (Basel). 2024. PMID: 38397824 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Role of Melatonin in Ovarian Function.Animals (Basel). 2024 Feb 17;14(4):644. doi: 10.3390/ani14040644. Animals (Basel). 2024. PMID: 38396612 Free PMC article. Review.
-
The Urinary Metabolome of Newborns with Perinatal Complications.Metabolites. 2024 Jan 10;14(1):41. doi: 10.3390/metabo14010041. Metabolites. 2024. PMID: 38248844 Free PMC article.
-
News in pharmacology for the main medical pathologies of gestation.Front Pharmacol. 2024 Jan 4;14:1240032. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1240032. eCollection 2023. Front Pharmacol. 2024. PMID: 38239189 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Exploring Melatonin's Multifaceted Role in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Management: A Comprehensive Review.Cureus. 2023 Nov 16;15(11):e48929. doi: 10.7759/cureus.48929. eCollection 2023 Nov. Cureus. 2023. PMID: 38106751 Free PMC article. Review.
References
-
- Schweiger MS. Sleep disturbance in pregnancy. A subjective survey. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1972;114:879–82. - PubMed
-
- Suzuki S, DennersteinL, Greenwood KM, Armstrong SM, Satohisa E. Sleeping patterns during pregnancy in Japanese women. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 1994;15:19–26. - PubMed
-
- Hayase M, Shimada M, Seki H. Sleep quality and stress in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension and gestational diabetes mellitus. Women Birth. 2014;27:190–5. - PubMed
-
- Warland J, Dorrian J, Morrison JL, O’Brien LM. Maternal sleep during pregnancy and poor fetal outcomes: a scoping review of the literature with meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev. 2018;41:197–219. - PubMed
-
- Palagini L, Gemignani A, Banti S, Manconi M, Mauri M, Riemann D. Chronic sleep loss during pregnancy as a determinant of stress: impact on pregnancy outcome. Sleep Med. 2014;15:853–9. - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical