Cardiovascular effects of melatonin in hypertensive patients well controlled by nifedipine: a 24-hour study.
OBJECTIVE
As melatonin has been found to play a role in the mechanisms of cardiovascular regulation, we designed the present study to evaluate whether the evening ingestion of the pineal hormone might interfere with the antihypertensive therapy in hypertensive patients well-controlled by nifedipine monotherapy.


METHODS
Forty-seven mild to moderate essential hypertensive outpatients taking nifedipine GITS 30 or 60 mg monotherapy at 08.30 h for at least 3 months, were given placebo or melatonin 5 mg at 22.30 h for 4 weeks according to a double-blind cross-over study. At the end of each treatment period patients underwent a 24 h noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) during usual working days; sleeping period was scheduled to last from 23.00 to 07.00 h.


RESULTS
The evening administration of melatonin induced an increase of blood pressure and heart rate throughout the 24 h period (DeltaSBP = + 6.5 mmHg, P < 0.001; DeltaDBP = + 4.9 mmHg, P < 0.01; DeltaHR = + 3.9 beats min-1, P < 0.01). The DBP as well as the HR increase were particularly evident during the morning and the afternoon hours.


CONCLUSIONS
We hypothesize that competition between melatonin and nifedipine, is able to impair the antihypertensive efficacy of the calcium channel blocker. This suggests caution in uncontrolled use of melatonin in hypertensive patients. As the pineal hormone might interfere with calcium channel blocker therapy, it cannot be considered simply a dietary supplement.
Lusardi
P
P
Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Piazza
E
E
Fogari
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009543:Nifedipine; D008550:Melatonin