Effect of Melatonin Administration on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult male and female patients with active SLE aged 18-60 years * Active SLE patients defined on SLEDAI-2K score to be (more than or equal 4 up to 11) according to the classification of SLE as suggested by the American Rheumatology Association (American College of Rheumatology) * Have had non-life-threatening disease * Taking stable doses of medications for SLE treatment in the last three months * Ability and willingness to cooperate in the study Exclusion Criteria: * Other autoimmune diseases * Uncontrolled hypertension or Uncontrolled DM * Severe renal (GFR \< 30 ml/min ) or severe liver diseases (ALT or AST \<3 times ULN or total bilirubin \> 2 times ULN) * Life-threatening SLE including * Severe hemolysis (reticulocyte count \>8%) * Severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count \<40 000) * Endocarditis * Lupus pneumonia * Alveolar hemorrhage * Using sedations, antidepressants, contraceptives, antioxidant and/or omega-3-fatty acid supplements one month prior to or during the study * Smoking and/ or alcohol intake * Allergy to melatonin * Pregnancy, pregnancy plans and lactation. * Having active infectious diseases * poor patient compliance * Any sleeping pills two weeks prior to the study * Malabsorption syndromes * Malignancy * Warfarin or heparin use or high-dose aspirin (more than 325 mg/day) * Stroke