Endometriosis

 

The results of supplemental melatonin in women with endometriosis are mixed. In a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial, Schwertner et al. found that melatonin at 10 mg nightly reduced endometriosis pain by about 40% and reduced the use of pain-relieving medications by 80% over two months (1). However, more recently, a small clinical trial (2) with women taking either a placebo or 10 mg melatonin during the menstrual week did not find any difference in pain reduction between the two groups. Based on the difference in findings between the two studies, a longer supplementation duration might be worth exploring in women with endometriosis.

 

This nutrient alone is not enough to manage the pain from endometriosis (3,4), but when it comes to pain relief, it may be a safer clinical starting point than pharmaceutical analgesics, which may have significant side effects.

 

 

Authors: Deanna Minich, Ph.D., Melanie Henning, ND, Catherine Darley, ND, Mona Fahoum, ND, Corey B. Schuler, DC, James Frame

Reviewer: Peer-review in Nutrients Journal

Last updated: September 22, 2022

 

References

1. Schwertner A, Conceição Dos Santos CC, Costa GD, Deitos A, de Souza A, de Souza ICC, et al. Efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of endometriosis: A phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Pain. 2013;154(6).

2. Söderman L, Edlund M, Böttiger Y, Marions L. Adjuvant use of melatonin for pain management in dysmenorrhea — a randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2022;78(2).

3. Chuffa LG de A, Lupi LA, Cucielo MS, Silveira HS, Reiter RJ, Seiva FRF. Melatonin promotes uterine and placental health: Potential molecular mechanisms. Vol. 21, International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020.

4. Anderson G. Endometriosis Pathoetiology and Pathophysiology: Roles of Vitamin A, Estrogen, Immunity, Adipocytes, Gut Microbiome and Melatonergic Pathway on Mitochondria Regulation. Biomol Concepts. 2019;10(1).