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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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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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