Exogenous melatonin decreases circadian misalignment and body weight among early types
Abstract
Shift workers experience chronic circadian misalignment, which can manifest itself in reduced melatonin production, and has been associated with metabolic disorders. In addition, chronotype modulates the effect of night shift work, with early types presenting greater circadian misalignment when working night shift as compared to late types. Melatonin supplementation has shown positive results reducing weight gain in animal models, but the effect of exogenous melatonin in humans on body weight in the context of shift work remains inconsistent. The aim of this study was thus to evaluate the effects of exogenous melatonin on circadian misalignment and body weight among overweight night shift workers, according to chronotype, under real‐life conditions. We conducted a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, crossover trial where melatonin (3 mg) or placebo was administered on non‐night shift nights for 12 weeks in 27 female nurses (37.1 yo, ±5.9 yo; BMI 29.9 kg/m 2 , ±3.3 kg/m 2 ). Melatonin (or placebo) was only taken on nights when the participants did not work night shifts, that is, on nights when they slept (between night shifts and on days off). Composite Phase Deviations (CPD) of actigraphy‐based mid‐sleep timing were calculated to measure circadian misalignment. The analyses were performed for the whole group and by chronotype. We found approximately 20% reduction in circadian misalignment after exogenous melatonin administration considering all chronotypes. Moreover, melatonin supplementation in those who presented high circadian misalignment, as observed in early chronotypes, reduced body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and hip circumference, without any change in the participants’ calorie intake or physical activity levels.
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Clinical evidence reveals melatonin supplements did not have striking effects on weight and the results of various doses and times on weight are inconsistent.
“However, the clinical evidence reveals melatonin supplements did not have striking effects on weight and the results of various doses and times on weight are inconsistent. 39-42”
From Melatonin supplementation improves glycemic hemostasis, lipid profile, and adipokine concentrations of obese women: A double-blind randomized clinical trial (2024) · cites this paper as [40]
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- Authors
- Marqueze, E. C., Nogueira, L. F. R., Vetter, C., Skene, D. J., Cipolla‐Neto, J., & Moreno, C. R. C.
- Affiliations
- Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
- Universidade Católica de Santos (BR)
- University of Colorado Boulder (US)
- University of Surrey (GB)
- Abu Dhabi University (AE)
- Department of Health Life Cycles and Society School of Public Health University of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
- Corresponding author
- Marqueze, Elaine C.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Pineal Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2021-06-20
- Volume
- 71
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- e12750-e12750
- ISSN
- 0742-3098 (ISSN-L)
- 1600-079X
- OpenAlex
- W3166273728
- Cited by
- 42
- References
- 65
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 2
- FWCI
- 3.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Pineal Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Keywords
- exogenous melatonin, circadian misalignment, chronotype, night shift work, shift work, body weight, body mass index, overweight, nurses, melatonin supplementation, actigraphy, sleep timing, waist circumference
- MeSH terms
- Shift Work Schedule, Body Weight, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Humans, Melatonin, Sleep
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