A recent study conducted by researchers from the Cleveland Clinic found that melatonin use was associated with a 58% lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration in patients aged 50 and older.
The cohort study, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, analyzed data from 121,523 patients aged 50 and older without a history of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and 66,253 patients with preexisting nonexudative AMD.
In patients without a history of AMD, melatonin use was associated with a lower risk of developing the condition (RR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.28-0.62). Among patients with nonexudative AMD, melatonin use was linked to a reduced risk of progression to exudative AMD (RR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.34-0.56).
This retrospective cohort study utilized the TriNetX database, which includes deidentified electronic medical records from various inpatient and outpatient healthcare organizations across the U.S. The study period spanned from December 4, 2023, to March 19, 2024.
Participants aged 50 and older were divided into melatonin and control groups based on the presence of melatonin prescription records. Propensity score matching was employed to balance demographic variables, comorbidities, and the use of other hypnotic medications between the cohorts.
The study revealed that melatonin use was associated with a decreased risk of developing AMD and its progression. Melatonin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that could potentially counteract the pathological processes in AMD. This protective influence on retinal pigment epithelial cells and its ability to reduce oxidative stress and vascular endothelial growth factor overexpression may contribute to its promising role in AMD management.
The findings suggest a rationale for further exploration of melatonin as a preventive therapy against AMD. The convenient availability of melatonin in oral form and its generally benign safety profile underscore the potential public health benefits of confirming these results in future clinical trials and longitudinal studies.
Disclosures are available in the full study.