title: Melatonin as a Potential Agent in the Treatment of Sarcopenia.
abstract: Considering the increased speed at which the world population is aging, sarcopenia could become an epidemic in this century. This condition currently has no means of prevention or treatment. Melatonin is a highly effective and ubiquitously acting antioxidant and free radical scavenger that is normally produced in all organisms. This molecule has been implicated in a huge number of biological processes, from anticonvulsant properties in children to protective effects on the lung in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this review, we summarize the data which suggest that melatonin may be beneficial in attenuating, reducing or preventing each of the symptoms that characterize sarcopenia. The findings are not limited to sarcopenia, but also apply to osteoporosis-related sarcopenia and to age-related neuromuscular junction dysfunction. Since melatonin has a high safety profile and is drastically reduced in advanced age, its potential utility in the treatment of sarcopenic patients and related dysfunctions should be considered.
authors: Department of Morphology and Cellular Biology, Medicine Faculty, University of Oviedo, Julian Claveria, s/n, Oviedo 33006, Spain. acoto@uniovi.es.|Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. acoto@uniovi.es.
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Coto-Montes
authors: Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. joseantonio.boga@sespa.es.|Service of Microbiology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Avenida de Roma, s/n, Oviedo 33011, Spain. joseantonio.boga@sespa.es.
authors: Jose A
authors: JA
authors: Boga
authors: Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. tan@uthscsa.edu.
authors: Dun X
authors: DX
authors: Tan
authors: Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. reiter@uthscsa.edu.
authors: Russel J
authors: RJ
authors: Reiter
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: aging; frailty; melatonin; sarcopenia; skeletal muscle