Night shift work has been associated with increased risk of certain cancers due to the suppression of melatonin production, the body’s natural hormone that helps repair DNA damage. A recent small clinical trial published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine suggests that melatonin supplementation may help offset this DNA damage by enhancing the body’s ability to repair it.
The study involved 40 night shift workers who were divided into two groups: one group received a daily 3 mg melatonin pill for four weeks, while the other group received a placebo. Urine samples were collected during daytime sleep and night shift periods to measure levels of 8-OHdG, an indicator of DNA damage repair capacity.
The results showed that participants taking the melatonin supplement had 80% higher levels of 8-OHdG during daytime sleep, indicating better DNA repair capacity. However, there was no significant difference in DNA repair capacity during the subsequent night shift.
While the study had limitations, such as a small sample size and participants mainly from the healthcare industry, the researchers suggest that melatonin supplementation may be a viable intervention strategy to reduce the cancer risk associated with night shift work. Larger studies are needed to explore varying doses and long-term effects of melatonin supplementation.
In conclusion, melatonin supplementation shows promise in improving DNA repair capacity among night shift workers, potentially reducing the risk of cancer. Future research is needed to further investigate the benefits of melatonin supplementation in this population.
For more information, you can refer to the study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine (2025) with the DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2024-109824. This research was provided by the British Medical Journal.
