The Effect of Melatonin Supplementation on Cancer-Related Fatigue during Chemotherapy Treatment of Breast Cancer Patients: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Study.
Frantzeska NimeeAristea GioxariPanos PapandreouCharalampia AmerikanouSofia KarageorgopoulouAndriana C KalioraMaria SkouroliakouPublished in: Cancers (2024)
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common distressing complaint of breast cancer (BC) patients treated with chemotherapy. Nutritional quality plays a pivotal role in CRF, while increased interest towards new pharmacological agents has been observed. Melatonin, an endogenous hormone that regulates the human sleep-wake cycle, could alleviate CRF. In the present randomized, placebo-controlled 3-month trial, we investigated the effects of melatonin intake (i.e., 1 mg/day) vs. placebo in BC patients on CRF. In both arms, the Mediterranean diet (MD) was implemented. Medical history, anthropometry and blood withdrawal were performed. CRF was evaluated by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue questionnaire and MD adherence by the MedDietScore. In total, 49 BC women (median age 52 years) were recruited, namely N = 23 in the intervention arm and N = 26 in the placebo arm. At baseline, CRF was positively associated with body mass index (BMI), even when adjusted for age, waist circumference and blood indices related to disease prognosis (beta = -0.882, p = 0.003). At 3 months, both groups showed a BMI decrease ( p < 0.05), but only the intervention group improved CRF compared to baseline ( p = 0.003). No differences in CRF were observed between the groups. In conclusion, melatonin oral supplementation could ameliorate CRF in BC patients.
Keyphrases
- body mass index
- placebo controlled
- phase iii
- double blind
- end stage renal disease
- phase ii
- randomized controlled trial
- newly diagnosed
- open label
- ejection fraction
- clinical trial
- chronic kidney disease
- weight gain
- study protocol
- healthcare
- sleep quality
- prognostic factors
- endothelial cells
- peritoneal dialysis
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- quality improvement
- pregnant women
- high resolution
- adipose tissue
- patient reported outcomes
- mesenchymal stem cells
- skeletal muscle
- metabolic syndrome
- high speed