The effect of long-term melatonin supplementation on psychosomatic disorders in postmenopausal women

Different psychosomatic disorders are observed in postmenopausal women. The decrease of estrogen production is believed to be the main cause of their severity. It is nowadays evident that the decreased melatonin release in women at this age who suffer from postmenopausal disorders might also contribute to the severity of the symptoms. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of melatonin supplementation on female hormones release and the alteration in climacteric symptoms. The study included 60 postmenopausal women, aged 51 - 64 years, who were randomly allotted into two equal groups. Group I was recommended placebo (2 x 1 tablet) and Group II - melatonin (3 mg in the morning and 5 mg at bedtime) for 12 months. Serum levels of 17β-estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), melatonin and urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) excretion as well as Kupperman Index (KI) and body mass index (BMI) were determined before the start and at 12 months after placebo or melatonin administration. In Group I only the value of KI slightly decreased (28.4 ± 2.9 versus 25.6 ± 3.8 points, P = 0,0619). In Group II - KI decreased from 29.1 ± 2.9 to 19.7 ± 3.1 points (P < 0.001) and BMI from 30.9 ± 2.9 to 28.1 ± 2.3 kg/m² (P < 0.05). Melatonin supplementation failed to change significantly the serum concentration of female reproductive hormones 17β-estradiol and FSH. We conclude that melatonin supplementation therapy exerts a positive effect on psychosomatic symptoms in postmenopausal women and can be recommended as the useful adjuvant therapeutic option in treatment of these disorders.