Can a sleep supplement soothe aching knees? new trial tests melatonin for arthritis pain
NCT ID NCT06012175
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This completed study tested whether taking melatonin (3 mg each night for 12 weeks) can safely reduce pain in people with knee osteoarthritis. Researchers enrolled 340 adults aged 40-80 with moderate knee pain. Half received melatonin and half received a placebo pill. The main goal was to measure changes in pain using a standard arthritis questionnaire.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- melatonin (dietary supplement)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, melatonin could offer a simple, low-cost option to help manage knee osteoarthritis pain.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed trial, but results are not yet reported. Melatonin is generally safe, but its effect on arthritis pain may be small or no better than placebo.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for OSTEOARTHRITIS, KNEE are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Xiangya Hospital of Central South University
Changsha, Hunan, 410000, China
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Could a common painkiller sabotage your knee treatment?
- Can a Mind-Body program ease knee pain and lift mood?
- Which knee implant feels more natural? a trial puts two designs to the test
- Could a quick insulin shot stop Steroid-Induced blood sugar spikes?
- Which Nerve-Blocking technique offers better knee pain relief?
- Knee replacement pain: can a simple injection match a nerve block?