Long-term Use of Adjuvant Melatonin Decreases Fatigue in Women with Breast Cancer
In this randomized clinical trial, women with stage I-III breast cancer received either melatonin 18mg daily or placebo, starting 1 week prior to the initiation of adjuvant treatment, and continuing until 2 years post completion of adjuvant treatment. The Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) was used pre and post intervention to assess fatigue. 92 subjects completed the trial in the placebo group, and 91 in the melatonin group.
Baseline BFI scores were no different in the 2 groups. At the completion of the trial, melatonin group subjects had a significantly lower mean fatigue score compared to placebo subjects (2.93 ± 1.04 vs 1.99 ± 1.02, p <0.001, p ≤0.05). There was also a greater reduction in the fatigue score over time in the melatonin group (p ≤0.001). Melatonin was generally well tolerated, with 6 of 102 subjects initially enrolled in the melatonin group withdrawing due to nausea.
Citation:
Sedighi Pashaki A, Sheida F, Moaddab Shoar L, Hashem T, Fazilat-Panah D, Nemati Motehaver A, Ghanbari Motlagh A, Nikzad S, Bakhtiari M, Tapak L, Keshtpour Amlashi Z, Javadinia SA, Keshtpour Amlashi Z. A Randomized, Controlled, Parallel-Group, Trial on the Long-term Effects of Melatonin on Fatigue Associated With Breast Cancer and Its Adjuvant Treatments. Integr Cancer Ther. 2023 Jan-Dec;22:15347354231168624. doi: 10.1177/15347354231168624. PMID: 37139718; PMCID: PMC10161337.
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