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Low Melatonin Associated with Increased Risk of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women

Date:
June 16, 2008
Source:
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Summary:
Low melatonin levels are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, according to a prospective case-control study.
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Low melatonin levels are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, according to a prospective case-control study.

Melatonin is primarily secreted during the dark hours of a light-dark cycle and has been shown to be low in some night workers. Researchers have found that low melatonin levels in premenopausal women are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

To find out if a similar association occurs in postmenopausal women, Eva Schernhammer, M.D., Dr.P.H., of the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston and colleagues compared melatonin levels in 178 postmenopausal women and 710 matched controls. All of the women were enrolled in the prospective Hormones and Diet in the Etiology of Breast Cancer Risk study.

The researchers found that women with the lowest levels of melatonin had a statistically significantly higher incidence of breast cancer than those with the highest levels.

The researchers conclude that low melatonin levels are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Further studies need to confirm these data and should investigate the mechanisms that underlie the association.

This research was recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.


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Materials provided by Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


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Journal of the National Cancer Institute. "Low Melatonin Associated with Increased Risk of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 16 June 2008. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080610161255.htm>.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute. (2008, June 16). Low Melatonin Associated with Increased Risk of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 19, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080610161255.htm
Journal of the National Cancer Institute. "Low Melatonin Associated with Increased Risk of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080610161255.htm (accessed March 19, 2024).

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