title: Melatonin for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort, in combination with disturbed bowel habits in the absence of identifiable organic cause. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a hormone produced by the pineal gland and also large number by enterochromaffin cells of the digestive mucosa. Melatonin plays an important part in gastrointestinal physiology which includes regulation of gastrointestinal motility, local anti-inflammatory reaction as well as moderation of visceral sensation. Melatonin is commonly given orally. It is categorized by the United States Food and Drug Administration as a dietary supplement. Melatonin treatment has an extremely wide margin of safety though it may cause minor adverse effects, such as headache, rash and nightmares. Melatonin was touted as a potential effective candidate for IBS treatment. Putative role of melatonin in IBS treatment include analgesic effects, regulator of gastrointestinal motility and sensation to sleep promoter. Placebo-controlled studies in melatonin suffered from heterogeneity in methodology. Most studies utilized 3 mg at bedtime as the standard dose of trial. However, all studies had consistently showed improvement in abdominal pain, some showed improvement in quality of life of IBS patients. Melatonin is a relatively safe drug that possesses potential in treating IBS. Future studies should focus on melatonin effect on gut mobility as well as its central nervous system effect to elucidate its role in IBS patients.
authors.affiliation: Kewin Tien Ho Siah, Reuben Kong Min Wong, Khek Yu Ho, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
authors.forename: Kewin Tien Ho
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Siah
authors.affiliation: Kewin Tien Ho Siah, Reuben Kong Min Wong, Khek Yu Ho, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
authors.forename: Reuben Kong Min
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Kewin Tien Ho Siah, Reuben Kong Min Wong, Khek Yu Ho, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
authors.forename: Khek Yu
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008550:Melatonin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: Analgesia; Irritable bowel syndrome; Melatonin; Pain; Sleep