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A randomized controlled trial of oral melatonin supplementation and breast cancer biomarkers.

Cancer causes & control : CCC
April 1, 2012
E S Schernhammer et al. (7 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

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

Extracted Claims (7)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
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
Abstract

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.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Administration, OralAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAntioxidantsBiomarkers, TumorBreast NeoplasmsDouble-Blind MethodEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayEstradiolFemaleHumansInsulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3Insulin-Like Growth Factor IMelatoninMiddle Aged
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety90
Efficacy20/10
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations29
Citations/Year2.2
Relative Citation Ratio0.99
NIH Percentile50%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score1.52
Normalized Score0.61
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