Possible Application of Melatonin in Long COVID
Clinical sequelae and symptoms for a considerable number of COVID-19 patients can linger for months beyond the acute stage of SARS-CoV-2 infection, “long COVID”. Among the long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection, cognitive issues (especially memory loss or “brain fog”), chronic fatigue, myalg...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/11/1646 |
| _version_ | 1797468907768905728 |
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| author | Daniel P. Cardinali Gregory M. Brown Seithikurippu R. Pandi-Perumal |
| author_facet | Daniel P. Cardinali Gregory M. Brown Seithikurippu R. Pandi-Perumal |
| author_sort | Daniel P. Cardinali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Clinical sequelae and symptoms for a considerable number of COVID-19 patients can linger for months beyond the acute stage of SARS-CoV-2 infection, “long COVID”. Among the long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection, cognitive issues (especially memory loss or “brain fog”), chronic fatigue, myalgia, and muscular weakness resembling myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are of importance. Melatonin may be particularly effective at reducing the signs and symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to its functions as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immuno-modulatory agent. Melatonin is also a chronobiotic medication effective in treating delirium and restoring the circadian imbalance seen in COVID patients in the intensive care unit. Additionally, as a cytoprotector, melatonin aids in the prevention of several COVID-19 comorbidities, including diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and ischemic and non-ischemic cardiovascular diseases. This narrative review discusses the application of melatonin as a neuroprotective agent to control cognitive deterioration (“brain fog”) and pain in the ME/CFS syndrome-like documented in long COVID. Further studies on the therapeutic use of melatonin in the neurological sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection are warranted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:13:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2c7bb6b0b05d4830a9dfedb1c806e792 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:13:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-2c7bb6b0b05d4830a9dfedb1c806e7922023-11-24T03:53:57ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2022-11-011211164610.3390/biom12111646Possible Application of Melatonin in Long COVIDDaniel P. Cardinali0Gregory M. Brown1Seithikurippu R. Pandi-Perumal2Faculty of Medical Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires C1107AAZ, ArgentinaCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, CanadaSaveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 600077, IndiaClinical sequelae and symptoms for a considerable number of COVID-19 patients can linger for months beyond the acute stage of SARS-CoV-2 infection, “long COVID”. Among the long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection, cognitive issues (especially memory loss or “brain fog”), chronic fatigue, myalgia, and muscular weakness resembling myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are of importance. Melatonin may be particularly effective at reducing the signs and symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to its functions as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immuno-modulatory agent. Melatonin is also a chronobiotic medication effective in treating delirium and restoring the circadian imbalance seen in COVID patients in the intensive care unit. Additionally, as a cytoprotector, melatonin aids in the prevention of several COVID-19 comorbidities, including diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and ischemic and non-ischemic cardiovascular diseases. This narrative review discusses the application of melatonin as a neuroprotective agent to control cognitive deterioration (“brain fog”) and pain in the ME/CFS syndrome-like documented in long COVID. Further studies on the therapeutic use of melatonin in the neurological sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection are warranted.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/11/1646brain fogCOVID-19fibromyalgialong COVIDmelatoninminimal cognitive impairment |
| spellingShingle | Daniel P. Cardinali Gregory M. Brown Seithikurippu R. Pandi-Perumal Possible Application of Melatonin in Long COVID Biomolecules brain fog COVID-19 fibromyalgia long COVID melatonin minimal cognitive impairment |
| title | Possible Application of Melatonin in Long COVID |
| title_full | Possible Application of Melatonin in Long COVID |
| title_fullStr | Possible Application of Melatonin in Long COVID |
| title_full_unstemmed | Possible Application of Melatonin in Long COVID |
| title_short | Possible Application of Melatonin in Long COVID |
| title_sort | possible application of melatonin in long covid |
| topic | brain fog COVID-19 fibromyalgia long COVID melatonin minimal cognitive impairment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/11/1646 |
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