Abstract

Introduction

Sleep problems are frequently observed in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, often leading to issues with learning, behavior and increased stress for the family. Melatonin is a key hormone produced by the pineal gland at night, helping to regulate sleep-wake cycles and induce sleepiness. Research shows that children with neurodevelopmental disorders might have irregular melatonin production. Melatonin treats sleep problems, though only a few studies have examined its effectiveness on children. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of melatonin in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities who experience sleep disturbances.

Methodology

We searched the articles from Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest based on predetermined inclusion criteria. We screened, selected relevant studies, and extracted data. The quality of each study was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies. The statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4.

Results & Discussion

We identified 11 studies, including 2315 patients with a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders, including ASD, ADHD, intellectual disability, and cerebral palsy. Melatonin significantly improves total sleep time by 32.03 minutes (p <0.001) and reduces sleep latency time by 23.8 minutes (p<0.001) in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Other sleep parameters showed little to no significant improvement. Most studies reported mild-to-moderate adverse effects such as irritability, drowsiness, rash, and abdominal discomfort.

Conclusion

Melatonin significantly improves total sleep time and reduces sleep latency in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.