In April 2014, researchers reported that melatonin supplementation reduced depressive symptoms in breast cancer patients. According to the National Cancer Institute, depression is a comorbid disabling syndrome that affects approximately 15-25 percent of cancer patients.
In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, researchers evaluated 54 women age 30-75 years with breast cancer without signs of depression on the Major Depression Inventory (MDI). The women received 6 mg melatonin or a placebo starting one week prior to surgery for three months of supplementation. The investigators assessed depression using the MDI as well as anxiety, sleep, general well-being, fatigue, pain and sleepiness.
Eleven women withdrew from the study including ten from the placebo group and one from the melatonin group. The researchers showed that the risk of developing depressive symptoms was lower in the melatonin group compared to the placebo group. In fact, 11 percent of the subjects in the melatonin group developed depressive symptoms compared to 45 percent in the placebo group, indicating a 75 percent decreased risk of depressive symptoms in the melatonin group compared to the placebo group. The researches did not find any changes in the additional subjective parameters or side effects between the two groups.
The researchers concluded, “Melatonin significantly reduced the risk of depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer during a three-month period after surgery.”
Reference:
Hansen MV, et al. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2014 Apr 23.
