Melatonin Improves Metabolic Abnormalities Induced by HAART in Mice

Aims: Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) is associated with metabolic complications. An unexpected extension of functional implications of melatonin, the neuro-hormone synthetized during the night, has been reported on the development of type 2 diabetes, sleep disturbances and depression. Melatonin has been shown to reduce the toxicity and increase the efficacy of a large number of drugs.

Objective: Current study evaluated the effect of Melatonin on mice treated with antiretroviral therapy.

Materials and Methods: Animals were divided into experimental groups with 12 animals each: (I) animals treated with antiretroviral therapy for 15 days, (II) animals treated with antiretroviral therapy and melatonin 6 mg/kg/day for 15 days, (III) untreated animals. Body weight, water intake and ration, excretion products and behavior were clinically assessed before and after treatment; further, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, hepatic enzymes (AST, ALT, GGT), creatinine, were evaluated by specific methods. Results were analyzed with GraphPad Prism by Student´s t test.

Results: Animals treated with antiretroviral therapy and melatonin (II) had higher body weight gain, less hepatomegaly, less anxiety, lower levels of triglycerides, cholesterol and hepatic enzymes when compared to animals treated with antiretroviral therapy.

Conclusion: Due to the low toxicity of melatonin and its ability to reduce the side effects and increase the efficacy of drugs its use as a combination therapy with antiretroviral therapy seems important and worthy of pursuit.