Melatonin reduces lung oxidative stress in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a major cause of death and disability, is attributed to an abnormal inflammatory response by the lungs to noxious substances, primarily from cigarette smoke. Although oxidative stress is regarded as central to the pathogenesis of COPD, very few studies have examined the effects of antioxidants in this condition. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the effects of melatonin in COPD. Thirty-six consecutive patients with clinically stable moderate to very severe COPD (30 men; mean±S.D.=66.6±7.8yr) were randomized to receive 3mg melatonin (N=18) or placebo for 3 months. Oxidative stress was evaluated by 8-isoprostane levels in exhaled breath condensate at baseline (T0) and after one (T1), two (T2), and three months (T3) of treatment. Additionally, exhaled breath condensate levels of IL-8, dyspnea severity (Medical Research Council scale), lung function (spirometry), and functional exercise capacity (six min walk test) were compared at baseline and after treatment. Patients receiving melatonin showed a decrease in 8-isoprostane (T0: mean±S.E.M.=20.41±2.92pg/mL; T1: 18.56±2.68pg/mL; T2: 12.68±2.04pg/mL; T3: 12.70±2.18pg/mL; P=0.04; repeated measures ANOVA) with significant differences from baseline after 2 (P=0.03) and 3months (P=0.01). Dyspnea was improved by melatonin (P=0.01), despite no significant changes in lung function or exercise capacity. Placebo-treated patients, but not those who were given melatonin, showed an increase in IL-8 (P=0.03). In summary, melatonin administration reduced oxidative stress and improved dyspnea in COPD. Further studies are necessary to determine the potential role for melatonin in the long-term management of these patients.

Strategies to decrease oxidative stress biomarker levels in human medical conditions: A meta-analysis on 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α

“…The remaining 278 references could be utilized to establish the increase in 8-iso-PGF 2α levels associated with medical conditions [61], [62], [63], [64], [65], [66], [67], [68], [69], [70], [71], [72], [73], [74], [75], [76], [77], [78], [79], [80], [81], [82], [83], [84], [85], [86], [87], [88], [89], [90], [91], [92], [93], [94], [95], [96], [97], [98], [99], [100], [101], [102], [103], [104], [105], [106], [107], [108], [109], [110], [111], [112], [113], [114], [115], [116], [117], [118], [119], [120], [121], [122], [123], [124], [125], [126], [127], [128], [129], [130], [131], [132], [133], [134], [135], [136], [137], [138], [139], [140], [141], [142], [143], [144], [145], [146]…”

Melatonin Supplementation Lowers Oxidative Stress and Regulates Adipokines in Obese Patients on a Calorie‐Restricted Diet

“…Similarly, a 2-month melatonin supplementation caused a reduction in TBARS concentration and a rise in SOD activity in the metabolic syndrome patients [38]. In other studies, melatonin supplementation improved the proantioxidant state in patients suffering from diseases linked to obesity, including diabetes mellitus [65], hypertension [66], and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [67]. The direct and indirect antioxidant properties of melatonin and its metabolites are well documented [18, 21, 23].…”

Ageing and the border between health and disease

“…In a study in COPD patients, melatonin was shown to reduce markers of oxidative stress, with improvements in dyspnoea, without any significant changes in lung function [261].…”