Therapeutic Potential of Melatonin in Functional Dyspepsia

Melatonin has demonstrated potential therapeutic benefits across a range of functional gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome and heartburn, due to its effects on motility regulation, visceral sensitivity, and gut–brain signaling. To assess its efficacy specifically in functional dyspepsia (FD), we conducted a meta-analysis of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving a total of 148 patients (74 in each of the melatonin and placebo groups). The primary outcome was symptom improvement following melatonin supplementation. The fixed-effect model revealed a statistically significant benefit (odds ratio [OR], 4.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.19–11.27; p<0.001), whereas the random-effects model showed a non-significant trend toward improvement (OR, 4.59; 95% CI, 0.82–25.80). These findings indicate that melatonin may be a promising adjunctive treatment for FD. However, the small number of RCTs and the age of the included studies limit definitive conclusions; large‑scale, recent trials are needed to define the optimal target population.