Melatonine
goed bij behandeling van kanker.*
Uit
een analyse van tien clinical trials van totaal 643 kanker patiënten blijkt dat
melatonine de kans op doodgaan, binnen 1 jaar na behandeling, met 34% kan
verlagen.
Melatonine
is een natuurlijk hormoon waarvan het belang bij kanker al in verschillende
studies is aangetoond. De toegepaste hoeveelheden waren 10-40 mg per dag. De
soorten kanker die de patiënten hadden waren, long, hersen, huid, nier en
borstkanker. Verder bleek dat melatonine overwegend veilig was en ook nog goed
was voor een goede nachtrust.
Role
of melatonin in cancer treatment is looking compelling
The
role of melatonin for the treatment of cancer is looking compelling, according
to a new study published in the Journal of Pineal Research. Researchers say that
the results are so compelling that cancer funding agencies should be eager to
support clinical trials to evaluate its therapeutic role in a variety of cancers.
Melatonin is a hormone naturally found in humans. Its association with cancer
has been shown in many studies assessing links between shift work and cancer
rates, and shown a consistent relationship. The association between melatonin
levels and cancer progression has suggested to some that melatonin may be a
modifier of cancer progression. In this latest study, researchers examined all
clinical trials assessing the role of melatonin as a therapy for solid tumor
cancers. They used a methodology called meta-analysis, a technique of analyzing
multiple studies. The authors reviewed 10 randomized clinical trials that
included a total of 643 cancer patients with a variety of different solid tumor
cancers. The types of cancers involved included lung, brain, skin, renal and
breast cancer. "In this analysis, the effects appeared to be consistent
across studies" say the authors. The researchers examined the effect of
large doses of melatonin (10-40mg/day) on survival rates at one year. Melatonin
reduced the risk of death at one year by 34%. "Effects this large certainly
warrant further clinical trials" say the authors. The study also showed
that melatonin was predominantly safe and had a beneficial effect on sleep
patterns of patients. All of the clinical trials involved in their study were
from Europe from a related network of clinical researchers in Italy and Poland.
The researchers, from McMaster University and the University of Toronto in
Canada, say that their analysis also shows that clinical trials in North America
should have been initiated back in 1996/7 as the results from Europe were
consistent at that time. The Canadian researchers urge caution in interpreting
the immediate clinical usefulness of large doses of melatonin and recommend
patients discuss this with their physicians before beginning any treatments.
Dr. Dugald Seely, a cancer researcher at Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto and
an author on the study, states, "This analysis shows a strong association.
The small number of people needed to treat, low adverse events reported and low
costs related to this intervention should be of substantial interest to patients,
physicians and policy makers. Completion of independently conducted studies is
required to confirm the efficacy and safety of melatonin in cancer treatment."
Mills E, Wu P, Seely D, Guyatt G.
Melatonin in the treatment of cancer: a systematic review of randomized
controlled trials and meta-analysis. J Pineal Res. 2005 Nov;39(4):360-6.
Edward Mills
millsej@mcmaster.ca
McMaster University, Department of Clinical Epidemiology
(November 2005) (Opm. Melatonine verhoogt de glutathion waarden in het lichaam.)
