Melatonin could aid night workers by boosting DNA repair
Research indicates that melatonin supplementation may support DNA repair in people working night shifts, which could reduce cancer risk.
Working night shifts is associated with disruptions to the circadian rhythm, which can damage DNA. Melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep and wake cycles, may help repair this damage. A study published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine suggests that melatonin supplementation enhances the body's capacity to repair DNA.
Melatonin is naturally produced in darkness, but night work disrupts its synthesis. This disruption causes sleep issues and reduces the ability to repair oxidative DNA damage, increasing cancer risk. Scientists decided to examine whether melatonin supplementation could support this repair process.
The study involved 40 people working night shifts. Over four weeks, half of the participants took 3 mg of melatonin before sleep, while the other half received a placebo. Participants wore activity trackers, and their urine was tested for 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), an indicator of DNA repair.
The study results are promising
Participants taking melatonin had 80% higher concentrations of 8-OH-dG during the day than the placebo group, indicating better DNA repair. However, no differences were observed during night shifts. The study authors emphasize that these results could serve as a foundation for further large-scale research.
The increased level of oxidative DNA damage, caused by a reduced capacity to repair it, is a mechanism that may contribute to the cancer-causing effects of night shift work. Our study suggests, however, that melatonin supplementation may enhance the efficiency of repairing such damage — claim the authors of the publication.
Scientists suggest that melatonin supplementation could be recommended to night workers as a strategy to reduce cancer risk. However, they emphasize that further research is necessary to assess the long-term effects of melatonin use. The study had limitations, such as a small sample size and lack of diversity in participants' occupations, which necessitated larger-scale repetition.
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