Melatonin may help ease chronic muscle and joint pain, new study suggests

Key Points:

• A new study analyzing 23 clinical trials with over 2,000 participants suggests melatonin may modestly reduce chronic muscle and joint pain as well as improve sleep, with pain scores dropping about nine points on a 100-point scale.
• Melatonin’s pain-relieving effects are thought to stem from its ability to dampen pain signals, reduce inflammation, calm nerves, and protect cells from oxidative stress, though the benefits are modest and comparable to some anti-inflammatory drugs.
• The hormone showed little to no significant effect on pain or sleep after surgery, indicating its potential use is more relevant for chronic pain conditions rather than acute postoperative pain.
• Current evidence supports melatonin as a complementary treatment alongside physiotherapy, exercise, and anti-inflammatory medications, rather than a replacement, with uncertainties remaining about optimal dosing and long-term use.
• Melatonin is generally safe for short-term use but can cause side effects and interacts differently with various health conditions; regulatory status varies globally, with it being prescription-only in the UK but widely available over-the-counter in the US.