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Melatonin in autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Open accessAbstract
AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate melatonin-related findings in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), including autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorders, not otherwise specified. METHOD: Comprehensive searches were conducted in the PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, EMBASE, Scopus, and ERIC databases from their inception to October 2010. Two reviewers independently assessed 35 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Of these, meta-analysis was performed on five randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, and the quality of these trials was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. RESULTS: Nine studies measured melatonin or melatonin metabolites in ASD and all reported at least one abnormality, including an abnormal melatonin circadian rhythm in four studies, below average physiological levels of melatonin and/or melatonin derivates in seven studies, and a positive correlation between these levels and autistic behaviors in four studies. Five studies reported gene abnormalities that could contribute to decreased melatonin production or adversely affect melatonin receptor function in a small percentage of children with ASD. Six studies reported improved daytime behavior with melatonin use. Eighteen studies on melatonin treatment in ASD were identified; these studies reported improvements in sleep duration, sleep onset latency, and night-time awakenings. Five of these studies were randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover studies; two of the studies contained blended samples of children with ASD and other developmental disorders, but only data for children with ASD were used in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis found significant improvements with large effect sizes in sleep duration (73 min compared with baseline, Hedge's g 1.97 [95% confidence interval {CI} CI 1.10-2.84], Glass's Δ 1.54 [95% CI 0.64-2.44]; 44 min compared with placebo, Hedge's g 1.07 [95% CI 0.49-1.65], Glass's Δ 0.93 [95% CI 0.33-1.53]) and sleep onset latency (66 min compared with baseline, Hedge's g-2.42 [95% CI -1.67 to -3.17], Glass's Δ-2.18 [95% CI -1.58 to -2.76]; 39 min compared with placebo, Hedge's g-2.46 [95% CI -1.96 to -2.98], Glass's Δ-1.28 [95% CI -0.67 to -1.89]) but not in night-time awakenings. The effect size varied significantly across studies but funnel plots did not indicate publication bias. The reported side effects of melatonin were minimal to none. Some studies were affected by limitations, including small sample sizes and variability in the protocols that measured changes in sleep parameters. INTERPRETATION: Melatonin administration in ASD is associated with improved sleep parameters, better daytime behavior, and minimal side effects. Additional studies of melatonin would be helpful to confirm and expand on these findings.
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“Out of 18 studies, the average overall improvement rate from melatonin for sleep disturbances in individuals with ASD was over 84% [58].”
From Pharmacological treatment in autism: a proposal for guidelines on common co-occurring psychiatric symptoms (2025) · cites this paper as [58]
In the citing paper
“Children with ASD have lower urinary melatonin secretion than typical children, suggesting possibly lower production levels [57, 58].”
From Pharmacological treatment in autism: a proposal for guidelines on common co-occurring psychiatric symptoms (2025) · cites this paper as [58]
In the citing paper
“Sleep abnormalities affect 80% of children with ASD and range from reduced sleep duration to parasomnias 2627.”
From Gastrointestinal Issues and Autism Spectrum Disorder (2020) · cites this paper as [26]
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“The use of melatonin for treating chronic sleep–wake cycle disorders of children with ASD/NGD is increasing (Rossignol and Frye, 2011; Cortesi et al., 2012; Gringras et al., 2012; 2017; Malow et al., 2012; Cuomo et al., 2017).”
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“In contrast, studies have suggested that melatonin is only effective for children with ASD who have difficulties with sleep latency, as it is known to increase night awakenings and disrupt sleep maintenance [55].”
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“A meta-analysis of five small studies supports the use of melatonin for sleep disorder in ASD (Rossignol and Frye, 2011) (evidence level Ia).”
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“Melatonin treatment has shown promise in the treatment of insomnia in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities (Rossignol and Frye 2011; Cortesi et al. 2012; Gringras et al. 2012).”
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“Melatonin is widely used for assisting with sleep initiation in children with ASD and has been shown to be effective for improving sleep in several controlled clinical trials (238, 239).”
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“…IL, USA D. L. Hachey Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA as a dietary supplement, has shown promise in reducing sleep latency in children with ASD in our work (Andersen et al. 2008; Malow et al. 2012) and in a recent review (Rossignol and Frye 2011).”
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“, 2005 for reviews), as well as beneficial effects of melatonin when administered to individuals with autism and sleep problems (Doyen et al., 2011; Rossignol and Frye, 2011; Guénolé et al., 2011).”
Sleep in autism Spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
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Quintana, D. S., Westlye, L. T., Hope, S., Nærland, T., Elvsåshagen, T., Dørum, E., Rustan, Ø., Valstad, M., Rezvaya, L., Lishaugen, H., et al. (2017) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/tp.2017.103 · Cited by 111
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“Differences have been observed in the mean plasma melatonin levels and the excretion of melatonin sulfate in children with ASD when compared to the levels observed in TD children in some studies [31,32], but not in others [33].”
BackgroundResultMelatonin and health: an umbrella review of health outcomes and biological mechanisms of action
Posadzki, P., Bajpai, R. C., Kyaw, B. M., Roberts, N., Brzezinski, A., Christopoulos, G. I., Divakar, U., Bajpai, S., Soljak, M., Dunleavy, G., et al. (2018) · BMC Medicine · doi:10.1186/s12916-017-1000-8 · Cited by 113
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“Rossignol and Frye [41] published a review and meta-analysis of 35 studies and reported that 9 studies of melatonin levels reported at least one sleep abnormality (7 low, 2 high, 4 circadian); 4 studies reported significant correlations between melatonin levels and ASD symptoms; and 5 studies reported gene abnormaliti…”
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“Although the dose, duration, and elements of sleep affected by melatonin vary considerably across studies, the cumulative findings provide support for melatonin treatment (Doyen et al., 2011; Guénolé & Baleyte, 2011; Rossignol & Frye, 2011; Schwichtenberg & Malow, 2015).”
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“• ASD is diagnosed mainly by interactive sessions, so it requires clinical experts to diagnose children near two years of age [11]; • It is difficult for the parents to visit the specialists, and the availability of such physicians is much lower in rural communities or underdeveloped countries [12]; • Parents who are…”
BackgroundRetractedMechanisms of Fluoride Toxicity: From Enzymes to Underlying Integrative Networks
Strunecká, A., & Strunecký, O. (2020) · Applied Sciences · doi:10.3390/app10207100 · Cited by 97
“Insomnia and sleep disorders occur in 50–80% of ASD patients [125,126].”
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“metaanalysis of melatonin treatment in individuals with ASD [74] reported good tolerability (0.”
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Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sleep
Johnson, K., & Zarrinnegar, P. (2020) · Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.chc.2020.08.012 · Cited by 87
Veatch, O. J., Pendergast, J. S., Allen, M. J., Leu, R. M., Johnson, C. H., Elsea, S. H., & Malow, B. A. (2014) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2197-4 · Cited by 89
“Melatonin supplementation is an emerging approach to treating ASD comorbid symptoms, including sleep initiation (Malow et al. 2012); however, some individuals are also nonresponders or exhibit disappearing effectiveness (Braam et al. 2010; Rossignol and Frye 2011).”
Autism Biomarkers: Challenges, Pitfalls and Possibilities
Anderson, G. M. (2014) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2225-4 · Cited by 86
“Over fifty papers have reported that redox status is altered or oxidative stress is increased in ASD (Frustaci et al. 2012; Rossignol and Frye 2011; Villagonzalo et al. 2010).”
BackgroundKhemakhem, A. M., Frye, R. E., El-Ansary, A. K., AL-Ayadhi, L. Y., & Bacha, A. G. B. (2017) · Metabolic Brain Disease · doi:10.1007/s11011-017-0085-2 · Cited by 85
Self-citationGut microbiota, kynurenine pathway and mental disorders – Review
Więdłocha, M., Marcinowicz, P., Janoska-Jaździk, M., & Szulc, A. (2020) · Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110145 · Cited by 90
Hyperactivity and male‐specific sleep deficits in the 16p11.2 deletion mouse model of autism
Angelakos, C. C., Watson, A. J., O'Brien, W. T., Krainock, K. S., Nickl‐Jockschat, T., & Abel, T. (2017) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.1707 · Cited by 83
“…total sleep time in some studies of ASD patients [Wright et al., 2011], but has little effect on mitigating other sleep disturbances [Cortesi, Giannotti, Sebastiani, Panunzi, & Valente, 2012; Malow et al., 2012] and may even increase night awakenings [Rossignol & Frye, 2011; Gringras et al., 2012].”
BackgroundSleep in autism: A biomolecular approach to aetiology and treatment
Ballester, P., Richdale, A. L., Baker, E. K., & Peiró, A. M. (2020) · Sleep Medicine Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2020.101357 · Cited by 86
Parent-Implemented Bedtime Fading and Positive Routines for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Delemere, E., & Dounavi, K. (2017) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-017-3398-4 · Cited by 80
“However melatonin lacks controlled research findings (Rossignol and Frye 2011).”
Low maternal melatonin level increases autism spectrum disorder risk in children
Braam, W., Ehrhart, F., Evelo, C. T., Maas, A. P. H. M., Smits, M. G., & Curfs, L. (2018) · Research in Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2018.02.017 · Cited by 100
Pharmacotherapeutic management of sleep disorders in children with neurodevelopmental disorders
Bruni, O., Angriman, M., Melegari, M. G., & Ferri, R. (2019) · Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy · doi:10.1080/14656566.2019.1674283 · Cited by 78
Approaches to studying and manipulating the enteric microbiome to improve autism symptoms
Frye, R. E., Slattery, J. M., MacFabe, D. F., Allen‐Vercoe, E., Parker, W., Rodakis, J., Adams, J. B., Krajmalnik‐Brown, R., Bolte, E. R., Kahler, S. G., et al. (2015) · Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease · doi:10.3402/mehd.v26.26878 · Cited by 78
“One of the most objective means for measuring sleep quality is actigraphy (87) that appears to be superior, especially for measuring nighttime wakening, as compared to parental sleep diaries (88).”
BackgroundSelf-citationClinical trials in autism spectrum disorder: evidence, challenges and future directions
Anagnostou, E. A. (2018) · Current Opinion in Neurology · doi:10.1097/wco.0000000000000542 · Cited by 74
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Disturbance of the melatonin system and its implications
Wu, Z., Huang, S., Zou, J.-J., Wang, Q.-X., Naveed, M., Bao, H.-N., Wang, W., Fukunaga, K., & Han, F. (2020) · Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy · doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110496 · Cited by 78
Gastrointestinal Issues and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Madra, M., Ringel, R., & Margolis, K. G. (2021) · Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.psc.2020.11.006 · Cited by 73
Treatment strategies for complex behavioral insomnia in children with neurodevelopmental disorders
Grigg-Damberger, M. M., & Ralls, F. M. (2013) · Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine · doi:10.1097/mcp.0b013e328365ab89 · Cited by 67
“Abnormally low levels of melatonin and/or its urinary metabolic derivatives have been found in ASD [18–20], and correlate with sleep problems and autistic behaviors [19].”
BackgroundPediatric sleep: current knowledge, gaps, and opportunities for the future
Reynolds, A., Spaeth, A. M., Hale, L. E., Williamson, A. A., LeBourgeois, M. K., Wong, S. D., Hartstein, L. E., Levenson, J. C., Kwon, M., Hart, C. N., et al. (2023) · SLEEP · doi:10.1093/sleep/zsad060 · Cited by 76
“Behavioral or medication trials [206] focused on improving sleep may include these measurements as biomarkers of treatment success.”
BackgroundGeoffroy, P. A., Micoulaud‐Franchi, J., Lopez, R., & Schroder, C. M. (2019) · L Encéphale · doi:10.1016/j.encep.2019.04.068 · Cited by 66
Systematic review and guide to management of core and psychiatric symptoms in youth with autism
Ameis, S. H., Kassee, C., Corbett-Dick, P., Cole, L. L., Dadhwal, S., Lai, M., Veenstra-VanderWeele, J. M., & Correll, C. U. (2018) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/acps.12918 · Cited by 64
“Additional systematic reviews (199, 200) also found some evidence for the efficacy of melatonin in ASD, with little to no adverse events reported (199, 200).”
BackgroundMelatonin Treatment in Children with Developmental Disabilities
Schwichtenberg, A. J., & Malow, B. A. (2015) · Sleep Medicine Clinics · doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2015.02.008 · Cited by 68
Melatonin and Melatonin Agonists as Adjunctive Treatments in Bipolar Disorders
Geoffroy, P. A., Étain, B., Micoulaud‐Franchi, J., Bellivier, F., & Ritter, P. S. (2015) · Current Pharmaceutical Design · doi:10.2174/1381612821666150619093448 · Cited by 69
Tryptophan status in autism spectrum disorder and the influence of supplementation on its level
Kałużna‐Czaplińska, J., Jóźwik-Pruska, J., Chirumbolo, S., & Bjørklund, G. (2017) · Metabolic Brain Disease · doi:10.1007/s11011-017-0045-x · Cited by 67
“Melatonin is responsible for the regulation of circadian rhythms (Rossignol and Frye 2011).”
BackgroundTreatment for Sleep Problems in Children with Autism and Caregiver Spillover Effects
Tilford, J. M., Payakachat, N., Kuhlthau, K. A., Pyne, J. M., Kovacs, E. A., Bellando, J. B., Williams, D. K., Brouwer, W. B. F., & Frye, R. E. (2015) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2507-5 · Cited by 65
“…and chronobiotic properties, is an approved US Food and Drug Administration nutrition supplement that showed promising results in small, randomized controlled trials as a monotherapy or combination with parent-based sleep education (Rossignol and Frye 2011; Cortesi et al. 2012; Malow et al. 2012a).”
Self-citationPharmacotherapy of autism spectrum disorders
Benvenuto, A., Battan, B., Porfirio, M. C., & Curatolo, P. (2012) · Brain and Development · doi:10.1016/j.braindev.2012.03.015 · Cited by 61
“Melatonin administration in ASDs is reported to be safe, well tolerated and efficient in improving sleep parameters and daytime behavior, and in decreasing of parental stress [18,19].”
BackgroundVargason, T., Frye, R. E., McGuinness, D. L., & Hahn, J. (2019) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.2128 · Cited by 59
“Detecting and treating COCs can have a significant impact on the clinical course of the child; for example, improving sleep can improve the quality of life of the whole family [Tilford et al., 2015] and improve behavioral problems during the day [Rossignol & Frye, 2011].”
BackgroundSelf-citationChronic Administration of Melatonin: Physiological and Clinical Considerations
Givler, D., Givler, A., Luther, P. M., Wenger, D. M., Ahmadzadeh, S., Shekoohi, S., Edinoff, A. N., Dorius, B. K., Baptiste, C. J., Cornett, E. M., et al. (2023) · Neurology International · doi:10.3390/neurolint15010031 · Cited by 59
Esposito, D., Belli, A., Ferri, R., & Bruni, O. (2020) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci10070441 · Cited by 59
“Its circulating levels have been shown to be lower in autistic patients than controls [148,149] and recent studies suggest that high oxidative stress might contribute to the worsening of sleep disorders and behavioral symptoms in ASD individuals [88,150].”
BackgroundEffects of exercise on sleep, melatonin level, and behavioral functioning in children with autism
Tse, A. C. Y., Lee, P. H., Zhang, J., Chan, R., Ho, A. W., & Lai, E. W. (2022) · Autism · doi:10.1177/13623613211062952 · Cited by 55
“Many studies have also shown that melatonin supplement positively impacts sleep in children with ASD, including reduced sleep onset latency, increased total sleep duration, and improved SE (Rossignol & Frye, 2011).”
BackgroundLamy, M., & Erickson, C. A. (2018) · Current problems in pediatric and adolescent health care · doi:10.1016/j.cppeds.2018.08.015 · Cited by 60
Rzepka-Migut, B., & Paprocka, J. (2020) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci10040219 · Cited by 59
Metadata
- Authors
- ROSSIGNOL, D. A., & FRYE, R. E.
- Affiliations
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (US)
- Corresponding author
- ROSSIGNOL, DANIEL A
- Venue
- Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-04-19
- Volume
- 53
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 783-792
- ISSN
- 0012-1622 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8749
- OpenAlex
- W2045069726
- Cited by
- 468
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 36 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 13.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Keywords
- melatonin, autism spectrum disorder, sleep disorders, sleep duration, sleep latency, nocturnal awakenings, melatonin metabolites, melatonin treatment
- MeSH terms
- Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Child, Preschool, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Melatonin, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Databases, Factual
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