Melatonin and health: an umbrella review of health outcomes and biological mechanisms of action.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Our aims were to evaluate critically the evidence from systematic reviews as well as narrative reviews of the effects of melatonin (MLT) on health and to identify the potential mechanisms of action involved.

Methods

An umbrella review of the evidence across systematic reviews and narrative reviews of endogenous and exogenous (supplementation) MLT was undertaken. The Oxman checklist for assessing the methodological quality of the included systematic reviews was utilised. The following databases were searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, CENTRAL, PsycINFO and CINAHL. In addition, reference lists were screened. We included reviews of the effects of MLT on any type of health-related outcome measure.

Results

Altogether, 195 reviews met the inclusion criteri

SUBMITTER: Posadzki PP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5798185 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature