Night shift workers ‘can reduce cancer risk by taking popular sleep supplement’

NIGHT shift workers can reduce their cancer risk by taking the sleep hormone melatonin, suggests a new study.

Melatonin supplements offset cancer-causing DNA damage linked to shift work, according to scientists.

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Boosts the body’s ability to repair any damage – which is vital for night shift workers, according to the study[/caption]

Known as the sleep hormone, melatonin is produced by the brain in response to darkness to help regulate sleep and wake cycles.

The findings of the small clinical trial also suggest it boosts the body’s ability to repair any damage.

Canadian researchers say the trial suggests larger studies looking at different doses and the potential long term effects of melatonin supplementation are now needed.

Previous research has shown normal night-time production of melatonin is suppressed in night shift workers.

Study author Dr Parveen Bhatti explained the suppression compromises the body’s ability to repair oxidative DNA damage, the by-product of normal cellular processes, which heightens the risk of certain cancers in shift workers.

The research team wanted to find out if melatonin supplementation might help offset any damage by enhancing DNA repair in 40 night shift workers.

Half the participants were randomly assigned to a daily 3mg melatonin pill taken with food and an hour before going to sleep during the day for four consecutive weeks.

The other half were randomly assigned to a 3mg dummy pill following the same schedule.

All the participants worked a minimum of two consecutive night shifts every week for at least six months – each shift lasted at least seven hours per night

None had any sleep disorders or long term conditions.

Urine specimens were collected during the second of two subsequent day sleep and night shift periods, once before starting the trial and once near the end of the four weeks.

Participants wore activity trackers to measure how long they slept during the day.

Levels of 8-OHdG, an indicator of DNA damage repair capacity, were measured in all urine passed during periods of daytime sleep and the subsequent night shift.

The findings, published online by the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, showed urinary levels of 8-OH-dG were 80 per cent higher during daytime sleep – indicating better repair – among those taking the melatonin supplement than those taking the dummy pill.

But there was no significant difference in urinary 8-OH-dG levels during the subsequent night shift.

Dr Bhatti said: “Increased oxidative DNA damage due to diminished DNA repair capacity is a compelling mechanism that may contribute to the carcinogenicity of night shift work.

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Melatonin supplements are available on prescription in the UK[/caption]

“Our randomised placebo-controlled trial suggested melatonin supplementation may improve oxidative DNA damage repair capacity among night shift workers.

“Our findings warrant future larger-scale studies that examine varying doses of melatonin supplements and longer-term impacts of melatonin use.

“Pending the outcome of such studies, melatonin supplementation may prove to be a viable intervention strategy to reduce the burden of cancer among night shift workers.”

He added: “Assessing long-term efficacy is critical since those who work night shifts for many years would need to consistently consume melatonin supplements over that time frame to maximise the potential cancer prevention benefits.”

Melatonin is available in the UK, but only with a prescription.

It’s not suitable for some people to take, so your doctor will check if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to melatonin or any other medicine
• have liver or kidney problems
• have rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or lupus, or any other autoimmune condition

Below are some over ways night shift workers can stay healthy…