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Use of Melatonin Is Associated With Lower Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Older Adults

Zhang, Naiqi LU orcid ; Sundquist, Jan LU ; Sundquist, Kristina LU and Ji, Jianguang LU orcid (2021) In Clinical and translational gastroenterology 12(8).
Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Preclinical evidence suggests that melatonin may affect cellular pathways involved in colorectal cancer (CRC). We sought to test whether melatonin use was associated with decreased risk of CRC using population-based data.

METHODS: We performed a nationwide cohort study using a new-user study design. We identified a total of 58,657 incident melatonin users aged 50 years and older from the Prescribed Drug Register, and matched them with 175,971 comparisons who did not use melatonin, on the ratio of 1:3. The Cox regression model was used to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS: The incidence rate of CRC was 10.40 per 10,000 person-years for melatonin users, whereas the rate was 12.82 per... (More)

INTRODUCTION: Preclinical evidence suggests that melatonin may affect cellular pathways involved in colorectal cancer (CRC). We sought to test whether melatonin use was associated with decreased risk of CRC using population-based data.

METHODS: We performed a nationwide cohort study using a new-user study design. We identified a total of 58,657 incident melatonin users aged 50 years and older from the Prescribed Drug Register, and matched them with 175,971 comparisons who did not use melatonin, on the ratio of 1:3. The Cox regression model was used to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS: The incidence rate of CRC was 10.40 per 10,000 person-years for melatonin users, whereas the rate was 12.82 per 10,000 person-years in the nonusers. We found a significant negative association between melatonin use and risk of CRC (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.72-0.92). A test for trend showed a significant dose-response correlation (P < 0.001). The decrease of CRC risk was independent of tumor location and stage at diagnosis. When stratified by age groups, the inverse association was significant only among individuals aged 60 years and older.

DISCUSSION: This population-based cohort study suggests that the use of melatonin was associated with a reduced risk of CRC. Further studies are needed to confirm the observed association and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Clinical and translational gastroenterology
volume
12
issue
8
article number
e00396
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • scopus:85113631222
  • pmid:34342302
ISSN
2155-384X
DOI
10.14309/ctg.0000000000000396
project
Drug repositioning in chemoprevention of colorectal cancer
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c4ea84ee-8703-4677-af72-4ccea72d6485
date added to LUP
2021-08-16 09:37:13
date last changed
2025-04-07 22:58:25
@article{c4ea84ee-8703-4677-af72-4ccea72d6485,
  abstract     = {{<p>INTRODUCTION: Preclinical evidence suggests that melatonin may affect cellular pathways involved in colorectal cancer (CRC). We sought to test whether melatonin use was associated with decreased risk of CRC using population-based data.</p><p>METHODS: We performed a nationwide cohort study using a new-user study design. We identified a total of 58,657 incident melatonin users aged 50 years and older from the Prescribed Drug Register, and matched them with 175,971 comparisons who did not use melatonin, on the ratio of 1:3. The Cox regression model was used to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals.</p><p>RESULTS: The incidence rate of CRC was 10.40 per 10,000 person-years for melatonin users, whereas the rate was 12.82 per 10,000 person-years in the nonusers. We found a significant negative association between melatonin use and risk of CRC (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.72-0.92). A test for trend showed a significant dose-response correlation (P &lt; 0.001). The decrease of CRC risk was independent of tumor location and stage at diagnosis. When stratified by age groups, the inverse association was significant only among individuals aged 60 years and older.</p><p>DISCUSSION: This population-based cohort study suggests that the use of melatonin was associated with a reduced risk of CRC. Further studies are needed to confirm the observed association and to explore the underlying mechanisms.</p>}},
  author       = {{Zhang, Naiqi and Sundquist, Jan and Sundquist, Kristina and Ji, Jianguang}},
  issn         = {{2155-384X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{8}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Clinical and translational gastroenterology}},
  title        = {{Use of Melatonin Is Associated With Lower Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Older Adults}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.14309/ctg.0000000000000396}},
  doi          = {{10.14309/ctg.0000000000000396}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}