Protective Effects of Melatonin against Severe Burn-Induced Distant Organ Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Experimental Studies

Abstract

Extensive burns result in a local wound response and distant-organ injury (DOI) caused by oxidative-stress and inflammation. Melatonin (MT) shows promise in alleviating oxidative-stress and inflammation, but its role in thermal injury is largely unexplored. The present systematic review and meta-analysis were designed to assess the effects of MT on oxidative-stress and inflammatory markers against severe burn-induced DOI. Mean difference (MD)/standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using fixed-effect/random-effects models. Eighteen experimental studies met the inclusion criteria. Compared with the control group, MT significantly decreased the levels of malondialdehyde (SMD, −1.03; 95% CI, −1.30, −0.76, p p p p = 0.03). Finally, MT significantly decreased the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (SMD, −1.34; 95% CI, −1.92 to −0.77; p p < 0.00001). Meta-analysis indicates that severe burn followed by immediate MT (10 mg/kg) intervention shows significant beneficial effects after 24-h against DOI by regulating oxidative-stress and the inflammatory response.

Keywords

• burns
• wound healing
• melatonin
• oxidative stress
• inflammation
• systematic review