Scientists say melatonin helps to prevent severe COVID-19

Researchers from Canada and Argentina found that melatonin in some cases prevents infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the development of a severe form of COVID-19, and can also become a drug that supports the effect of the vaccine, Report says, citing RIA Novosti.

It is known that the hormone melatonin has anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, and antioxidant properties, counteracts chronic sleep disorders, and helps with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases.

Researchers from the University of Toronto in Canada and the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina prepared a review that collected evidence that melatonin can reduce the severity of COVID-19 and possibly inhibit coronavirus infection.

The authors note that melatonin effectively binds and inhibits the formation of calmodulin, a protein that regulates the surface expression of ACE2. Besides, melatonin reduces the amount of Pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with severe COVID-19 disease and has an anti-inflammatory effect through sirtuin — 1, a protein that suppresses macrophage polarization.