Can Melatonin Improve the Osteopenia of Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women? A Meta-Analysis

Tingting Bao; Liuting Zeng; Kailin Yang; Yuehua Li; Fengying Ren; Yulong Zhang; Ziren Gao

doi:10.1155/2019/5151678

Can Melatonin Improve the Osteopenia of Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women? A Meta-Analysis

Int J Endocrinol. 2019 Apr 7:2019:5151678. doi: 10.1155/2019/5151678. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Tingting Bao^{1

2}, Liuting Zeng³, Kailin Yang³, Yuehua Li², Fengying Ren^{1

2}, Yulong Zhang^{1

2}, Ziren Gao²

Affiliations

¹ Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
² Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
³ Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effectiveness and safety of melatonin for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with osteopenia.

Methods: In this meta-analysis, data from randomized controlled trials were obtained to assess the effects of melatonin versus placebo or western medicine in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with osteopenia. The study's registration number is CRD42018086238. The primary outcomes included bone mineral density (BMD) and T-score.

Result: From 551 articles retrieved, three trials involving 121 patients were included. Due to the high-to-substantial heterogeneity (BMD: I²=96.9%, P=0.000; T-score: I²=74.9%, and P=0.019), the statistical analysis of BMD and T-score was abandoned. A systematic review was undergone for the two outcomes. Compared with the control group, melatonin may increase osteocalcin (WMD 4.97; 95% CI 3.14, 6.79; P < 0.00001).

Conclusion: Based on current evidence, melatonin might be used as a safe nutritional supplement to improve bone density in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, but its efficacy needs to be further affirmed.

Publication types

Review