Melatonin and the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Melatonin and the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

A recent study published in JAMA Ophthalmology assumes that melatonincommonly used as a sleep aid, may have significant benefits in reducing the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The analysis was based on data from the TriNetX database, which includes electronic health records of patients in the United States between December 2023 and March 2024.

The researchers selected 121,523 patients over 50 years of age, of whom 4,848 represented the group, using melatonin, and the control group consisted of 116,675 people. Using propensity score matching, the researchers compared both groups and found that Melatonin use was associated with a 58% reduced risk of developing any form of AMD.. Moreover, among patients with non-exudative AMDmelatonin use was associated with a 56% reduction in the risk of progression Neovascular AMD.

The study also divided patients into subgroups by age: over 50, 60 and 70 years, finding consistent results across all age groups. However, the researchers acknowledged several limitations of their study. These include possible errors in medical records, lack of control over modifiable risk factors such as smoking and the use of other supplements, which could lead to bias against healthy users.

The authors emphasized that melatonin can act as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agentwith antiangiogenic and mitochondrial properties. These results provide a basis for expanding clinical studies of the therapeutic efficacy of melatonin in the prevention and progression of AMD.

The study was led by Hyejin Jeong of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland and published on June 6, 2024. While the results are promising, the researchers advocate for additional clinical trials and longitudinal studies to confirm these findings and potentially integrate melatonin into the AMD treatment.

References:

Jeong H, Shaya JK, Markle JK, et al. Melatonin and risk of age-related macular degeneration. JAMA Ophthalmology. June 6, 2024.
Melatonin has been shown to reduce the risk of developing and progressing AMD

Translation: Association of the retinal macular

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