Melatonin Eases IBS Pain

SINGAPORE--Supplementation with melatonin may decrease abdominal pain in sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with sleep disturbances, according to a randomized study published in the May issue of Gut (54, 6:1136, 2005).

Forty IBS patients (aged 20 to 64 years) with sleep disturbances were randomly assigned to receive either 3 mg/d of melatonin or placebo for two weeks. Subjects answered bowel, sleep and psychological questions, and underwent recal manometry and overnight polysomnography procedures before and after treatment. Researchers found melatonin supplementation significantly decreased abdominal pain and increased rectal pain threshold. Bloating, stool type, stool frequency, anxiety, depression and sleep parameters did not notably differ after treatment in either group.

Researchers concluded melatonin alleviates abdominal pain in IBS patients with sleep disturbance independent of its action on sleep disturbance and psychology.