Melatonin Eases IBS Pain 29897

Melatonin Eases IBS Pain

SINGAPORESupplementation withmelatonin may decrease abdominal pain in sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) with sleep disturbances, according to a randomized study published in theMay issue of Gut (54, 6:1136,2005).

Forty IBS patients (aged 20 to 64 years) with sleepdisturbances were randomly assigned to receive either 3 mg/d of melatonin orplacebo for two weeks. Subjects answered bowel, sleep and psychologicalquestions, and underwent recal manometry and overnight polysomnographyprocedures before and after treatment. Researchers found melatoninsupplementation significantly decreased abdominal pain and increased rectal painthreshold. Bloating, stool type, stool frequency, anxiety, depression and sleepparameters did not notably differ after treatment in either group.

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