Melatonin mitigates disrupted circadian rhythms, lowers intraocular pressure, and improves retinal ganglion cells function in glaucoma.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the effects of long-term melatonin administration on circadian rhythms, intraocular pressure (IOP), retinal ganglion cell function, sleep, and mood in patients with stable or advanced primary open-angle glaucoma.
Results Summary
Melatonin improved the stability of systemic and local circadian rhythms, reduced IOP and its variability, enhanced retinal ganglion cell function in advanced glaucoma, and improved sleep and mood, with greater benefits observed in advanced cases. Delayed melatonin and body temperature phases were noted in MTNR1B G-allele carriers with advanced glaucoma.
Population
Patients diagnosed with stable or advanced primary open-angle glaucoma (15 participants in the laboratory study).
Effective Dosage
Daily at 10:30 pm (specific dosage amount not provided).
Duration
90 days
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
long-term oral melatonin administration | increase | Tb circadian rhythm | patients diagnosed with stable or advanced primary open-angle glaucoma | - | increased the stability of | #1 |
long-term oral melatonin administration | increase | Tb circadian rhythm | patients diagnosed with stable or advanced primary open-angle glaucoma | - | improved phase alignment of | #2 |
long-term oral melatonin administration | increase | IOP | patients diagnosed with stable or advanced primary open-angle glaucoma | - | improved alignment of Tb circadian rhythm with | #3 |
long-term oral melatonin administration | decrease | IOP | patients diagnosed with stable or advanced primary open-angle glaucoma | - | time-dependently decreased | #4 |
long-term oral melatonin administration | decrease | IOP standard deviation (SD) | patients diagnosed with stable or advanced primary open-angle glaucoma | - | time-dependently decreased | #5 |
long-term oral melatonin administration | decrease | IOP 24-hour mean | individuals with the higher initial 24-hour IOP mean | more pronounced | decreased | #6 |
long-term oral melatonin administration | decrease | IOP SD | individuals with the higher initial 24-hour IOP mean | more pronounced | decreased | #7 |
long-term oral melatonin administration | increase | RGCs function | patients with advanced glaucoma | - | improved | #8 |
long-term oral melatonin administration | increase | N95 amplitude | patients with advanced glaucoma | - | increased | #9 |
long-term oral melatonin administration | increase | sleep | patients with advanced glaucoma | greater | had beneficial effects on | #10 |
long-term oral melatonin administration | increase | mood | patients with advanced glaucoma | greater | had beneficial effects on | #11 |
- | neutral | delayed salivary melatonin phases | MTNR1B G-allele carriers with advanced glaucoma | - | were observed | #12 |
- | neutral | delayed Tb phases | MTNR1B G-allele carriers with advanced glaucoma | - | were observed | #13 |
Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy associated with damage to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and disrupted circadian rhythms. Melatonin is a promising substance to ameliorate glaucoma-associated compromised circadian rhythms, sleep, mood, and retinal cells function. However, studies estimating melatonin effects in glaucoma are currently lacking. Therefore, In this study, we investigated the effect of long-term (daily at 10:30 pm for 90 days) oral melatonin administration on systemic (Tb) and local to the organ of vision (IOP) circadian rhythms, pattern electroretinogram (PERG), sleep, and mood, depending on glaucoma stage in patients diagnosed with stable or advanced primary open-angle glaucoma. In a laboratory study in 15 of them, 24-hour records of salivary melatonin were obtained and MTNR1B receptor gene polymorphism was assessed. Melatonin increased the stability of the Tb circadian rhythm by improving its phase alignment and alignment with IOP. Melatonin time-dependently decreased IOP and IOP standard deviation (SD). IOP 24-hour mean and IOP SD decreases were more pronounced in individuals with the higher initial 24-hour IOP mean. Melatonin improved RGCs function in advanced glaucoma; N95 amplitude increase correlated positively with RGCs loss. The beneficial effects of melatonin on sleep and mood were greater in advanced glaucoma. Finally, delayed salivary melatonin and Tb phases were observed in MTNR1B G-allele carriers with advanced glaucoma. Combined, these results provide evidence for melatonin efficiency in restoring disrupted circadian rhythms in glaucoma with different effects of melatonin on systemic vs. local circadian rhythms, indicating that a personalized strategy of melatonin administration may further refine its treatment benefits.