Should I Take Melatonin for PCOS?
There are so many supplements recommended for PCOS it can be challenging to know what to choose! Today we are dissecting melatonin for PCOS to allow you to make an informed decision.
PCOS is a common endocrine disorder that impacts 1 in 10 women in the UK (1). There are a variety of symptoms associated with PCOS including oily skin, acne, hair loss from the head, hair growth in places we wouldn’t expect, irregular or lack of periods and difficulties getting pregnant (2).
Melatonin and PCOS
Melatonin is a hormone and antioxidant secreted by the pineal gland in the brain that controls the wake/sleep cycles, circadian rhythms and reproduction. Melatonin supplementation is often used as a sleep aid but may also have used in inflammation control, egg quality and fertility (3).
A study analysing the impact of melatonin administration on inflammation levels found that twelve weeks of regular melatonin administration led to lowered biomarkers of oxidative stress and cardio-metabolic risk in type 2 diabetic patients with coronary heart disease. Melatonin was also seen to have beneficial impacts on plasma glutamine, nitric oxide and serum hs-CRP levels (4).
In regards to fertility, a pilot study found that PCOS patients who took 2mg of melatonin for 6-months without any other lifestyle or dietary changes showed a significant decrease in androgen levels, AMH levels, LDL cholesterol levels and an increase in FSH levels. Plus, 95% of PCOS patients experienced an amelioration of their menstrual cycle (5).
Research into melatonin for PCOS is still in its infancy and more evidence is required into the link between melatonin and inflammation, egg quality and fertility for people with PCOS.
Melatonin supplements are just one of the supplements that you may want to include in your diet. You can read more about some of the other common supplements in PCOS on the blog.
Before taking supplements, remember to speak to your doctor, healthcare team, a Registered Dietitian or a Registered Nutritionist to ensure there are no counter-indications with other medications.
References
BDA, 2016. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – the fundamentals[online]. Available from: https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-the-fundamentals.html
NHS, 2019. Symptoms Polycystic ovary syndrome[online]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/symptoms/
Jain P, Jain M, Haldar C. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2013;6(4):253-8
Raygan F, Ostadmohammadi V, Bahmani F. Clin Nutr. 2017 S0261-5614(17)31424-3
Tagliaferri V, Romualdi D, Scarinci E. Melatonin Treatment May Be Able to Restore Menstrual Cyclicity in Women With PCOS: A Pilot Study. Reprod Sci. 2018;25(2):269-275
