A randomized controlled trial of oral melatonin supplementation and breast cancer biomarkers.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess compliance with and the effects of melatonin supplementation on breast cancer biomarkers (estradiol, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio) in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors.
Results Summary
Melatonin was well tolerated with high compliance (89.5%) but did not significantly influence circulating estradiol, IGF-1, or IGFBP-3 levels after 4 months of supplementation. Low baseline estradiol levels may have limited the ability to detect further estradiol-lowering effects.
Population
Postmenopausal women with a prior history of stages 0-III breast cancer who had completed active cancer treatment.
Effective Dosage
3 mg oral melatonin daily
Duration
4 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 mg oral melatonin daily | no change | circulating estradiol levels | postmenopausal women with a prior history of breast cancer | - | did not influence | #1 |
3 mg oral melatonin daily | no change | IGF-1 levels | postmenopausal women with a prior history of breast cancer | - | did not influence | #2 |
3 mg oral melatonin daily | no change | IGFBP-3 levels | postmenopausal women with a prior history of breast cancer | - | did not influence | #3 |
melatonin treatment | no change | estradiol levels | - | - | did not influence | #4 |
melatonin treatment | no change | IGF-1/IGFBP-3 levels | - | - | did not influence | #5 |
melatonin supplementation | no change | toxicity | - | without any grade 3/4 | was well tolerated | #6 |
melatonin supplementation | increase | compliance | - | high (89.5%) | compliance was | #7 |
We examined compliance with and the effects of melatonin supplementation on breast cancer biomarkers (estradiol, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), and the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio) in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, postmenopausal women with a prior history of stages 0-III breast cancer who had completed active cancer treatment (including hormonal therapy) were randomly assigned to either 3 mg oral melatonin (n = 48) or placebo daily for 4 months. Plasma samples were collected at baseline and after the completion of the intervention. The primary endpoints were compliance and change in estradiol and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 levels. Ninety-five women were randomized (48 to melatonin and 47 to placebo). Eighty-six women (91%) completed the study and provided pre- and postintervention bloods. Melatonin was well tolerated without any grade 3/4 toxicity and compliance was high (89.5%). Overall, among postmenopausal women with a prior history of breast cancer, a 4-month course of 3 mg melatonin daily did not influence circulating estradiol, IGF-1, or IGFBP-3 levels. Compliance was comparable between the two groups. Short-term melatonin treatment did not influence the estradiol and IGF-1/IGBBP-3 levels. Effects of longer courses of melatonin among premenopausal women are unknown. Low baseline estradiol levels in our study population may have hindered the ability to detect any further estradiol-lowering effects of melatonin.