Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally in the brain, whose soporific action helps you fall asleep. The production of this small molecule, which is associated with the sleep cycle, increases at the end of the day in response to darkness. That’s why, in recent years, more and more companies are manufacturing and selling melatonin as a dietary supplement to help adults with sleep disorders, including insomnia. “Melatonin has been shown to antagonize several processes known to mediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but it is not yet known whether melatonin may confer benefits against AMD.”indicated researchers from the Cleveland Clinic (United States).
The medical records of nearly 200,000 elderly patients were analyzed
In a new study, they decided to examine the association between melatonin supplementation and the risk of development or progression of this chronic eye disease, which often leads to blindness. For the purposes of their work, the scientists used a database comprising anonymous electronic medical records from inpatient and outpatient healthcare establishments across the United States, between December 4, 2023 and March 19, 2024. In total, the cases of 121,523 adults aged over 50 years without a history of AMD and 66,253 patients with pre-existing non-exudative AMD were analyzed. “Patients were then classified into either a melatonin group or a control group based on their melatonin use.”
Melatonin was associated with reduced risk of AMD
According to the results, published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology, many volunteers showing no signs of AMD regularly took melatonin-based food supplements. The authors also found that many patients who started taking it after developing this eye condition had slower deterioration than people who were unable to opt for melatonin supplementation. “Although lifestyle factors may have influenced this association, these findings warrant further research into the effectiveness of using melatonin as a preventative treatment for AMD.”concluded the team.
