Mechanisms of Melatonin in Obesity: A Review

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2021-12, Vol.23 (1), p.218
• Main Authors: Guan, Qingyun, Wang, Zixu, Cao, Jing, Dong, Yulan, Chen, Yaoxing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose tissue; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Animals; Antioxidants; Body fat; Cardiovascular disease; Cholesterol; Circadian rhythm; Circadian Rhythm - physiology; Circadian rhythms; Endocrine system; Energy metabolism; Exosomes; Gastrointestinal Microbiome - physiology; Gestational diabetes; Glucose; Glucose metabolism; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Inflammation - metabolism; Insulin resistance; Intestinal microflora; Kinases; Lipid metabolism; Lipid Metabolism - physiology; Lipids; mechanisms; Melatonin; Melatonin - metabolism; Metabolism; Microbiota; Musculoskeletal system; Obesity; Obesity - metabolism; Overweight; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Pancreas; Physiology; Proteins; Public health; Review; Sleep disorders; Weight control; Womens health
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010218

Obesity and its complications have become a prominent global public health problem that severely threatens human health. Melatonin, originally known as an effective antioxidant, is an endogenous hormone found throughout the body that serves various physiological functions. In recent decades, increasing attention has been paid to its unique function in regulating energy metabolism, especially in glucose and lipid metabolism. Accumulating evidence has established the relationship between melatonin and obesity; nevertheless, not all preclinical and clinical evidence indicates the anti-obesity effect of melatonin, which makes it remain to conclude the clinical effect of melatonin in the fight against obesity. In this review, we have summarized the current knowledge of melatonin in regulating obesity-related symptoms, with emphasis on its underlying mechanisms. The role of melatonin in regulating the lipid profile, adipose tissue, oxidative stress, and inflammation, as well as the interactions of melatonin with the circadian rhythm, gut microbiota, sleep disorder, as well as the α7nAChR, the opioidergic system, and exosomes, make melatonin a promising agent to open new avenues in the intervention of obesity.