Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. In this study, patients with multiple sclerosis were given 10 mg of melatonin daily for 30 days and experienced significant improvements in the levels of antioxidants which might help, prevent or delay the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. 

Multiple Sclerosis is characterized by degeneration of the nervous system caused by high levels of inflammation, cell damage, and a process called “autoimmunity” whereby the body inexplicably attacks its’ own tissue (1). Affecting people between the ages of 20 and 40, initial symptoms include blurred or double vision, red-green color distortion, muscle weakness in their extremities and difficulty with coordination and balance that can impair walking or even standing (1).

Multiple Sclerosis affects 400,000 Americans, 2 million people worldwide (2) and costs our healthcare system $47,215 per patient per year (3). Now a new study (4) suggests that melatonin, a hormone possessing strong antioxidant (5) and anti-inflammatory properties (6), may help maintain nerve health in patients with a certain type of multiple sclerosis.

In the study, 16 patients (11 females, 5 males) aged 36 to 56 with a type of multiple sclerosis called secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (7) for an average of 10 years, were given 10 milligrams of melatonin every day for 30 days. The patients were not taking any immune system medications, hormones, or vitamin supplements. Thirteen patients without any signs of multiple sclerosis were in the control group. Before and after the study, patients provided blood samples to measure antioxidant levels and were assessed using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (9), the most commonly used scale for the assessment of impairment and disability, and the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (9).

By the end of 30 days, the researchers observed statistically significant improvements the group with melatonin supplementation in activity of 2 antioxidants- SOD (Superoxide Dismutase)  and GPx (glutathione peroxidase ) as well as decreases in cell damage as measured by malondialdehyde. Specifically, melatonin supplementation increased activity of superoxide dismutase by 10.9% (1375 to 1525 Units/gram of hemoglobin,p < 0.0001) and GPx by 3.8% (25.75 to 28.5 Units/gram of hemoglobin,p = 0.004) while decreasing malondialdehyde levels by 14.7% (0.375 to 0.320,p = 0.00019).  In the healthy group (control group), melatonin increased superoxide dismutase by 5.2% (1900 to 1999 Units/gram of hemoglobin,p < 0.0001  and there was no change in the GPx or malondialdehyde levels.

While no statistically significant differences were seen with the Expanded Disability Status Scale and Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale, it may have been due to the fact that the 30-day supplementation and was not long enough to elicit any benefits in those assessments. Further research should be done over a longer period to check on this.

Citing research showing melatonin to be twice as effective as vitamin E in protecting cell membranes and five times more effective than glutathione in protecting cells from free radicals (10), the researchers concluded that “melatonin may have a role as adjuvant treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis” and that “these data support future studies evaluating the therapeutic actions of melatonin in reduction oxidative stress in multiple sclerosis patients.”

Source: Miller, Elżbieta, et al. “Melatonin reduces oxidative stress in the erythrocytes of multiple sclerosis patients with secondary progressive clinical course.” Journal of neuroimmunology 257.1 (2013): 97-101.

© 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 

Posted April 29, 2013.

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com

References:

  1. “What is Multiple Sclerosis?” – National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website
  2. “Living with multiple sclerosis means struggles and triumphs” – CNN August 28, 2012
  3. Kobelt G.  Costs and quality of life in multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional study in the United States.  Neurology 2006;66(11):1696-702
  4. Miller E.  Melatonin reduces oxidative stress in the erythrocytes of multiple sclerosis patients with secondary progressive clinical course.  J Neuroimmunol 2013;257(1-2):97-101. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2013.02.012.
  5. Esposito, E., Cuzzocrea, S., 2010. Antiinflammatory activity of melatonin in central nervous system. Curr. Neuropharmacol. 8, 228–242.
  6. Bielekova B.. Development of biomarkers in multiple sclerosis. Brain 2004; 127: 1463–1478
  7. Wang X.  The antiapoptotic activity of melatonin in neurodegenerative diseases. CNS Neurosci. Ther 2009; 15:345–357
  8. Kurtzke JF.  Rating neurological impairment in multiple sclerosis: an expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Neurology 2001; 33, 1444–1452
  9. Hobart J.. Themultiple sclerosis impact scale (MSIS-29). A new patient-based outcomemeasure. Brain 2001; 124, 962–973.
  10. Reiter RJ.  Melatonin as an antioxidant: biochemicalmechanisms and pathophysiological implication in humans. Acta Biochim. Pol. 2003; 50, 1129–1146.