Does Melatonin Slow Macular Degeneration?
Blog vol 5.3. Does Melatonin Slow Macular Degeneration?
We know vitamins E, C, and A are helpful to the health and integrity of the eye. All of these vitamins have antioxidant properties which are important for the health and healing of the retina, in particular, the macula (the central part of your vision, the 20/20 zone).
Every time a light receptor (rod or cone) is turned on by light, the cell is destabilized creating an action potential. The cell fires off, sending an impulse through the intricate network of axons through the visual system. Receptors require oxygen to perform their role. This whole process releases small amounts of free radicals that can damage the cell and surrounding tissues if in high enough concentration. The body combats these radicals by releasing antioxidants, molecules that neutralize radicals.
So far all good, but factors like UV radiation, stress, nicotine, age, and genetic predisposition are all contributing factors to oxidative stress. This is loosely what happens in macular degeneration: the body does not get rid of the free radicals fast enough and they accumulate messing up the vision. Once messed up, there is no fixing. Macular degeneration cannot be prevented or reversed, only slowed down. So let’s stall, drag our feet, throw up roadblocks…
Take supplements, eat healthy foods high in antioxidant content, protect your eyes from UV rays, stay away from smoking, and, everyone’s favourite, exercise. Could melatonin be another roadblock?
A patient this week asked about melatonin as a macular degeneration preventative. I had not heard of this as an option. Aha! Something to research!
The latest research suggests that melatonin may help slow macular degeneration (See here). However, this was a retrospective cohort study which means it was done after the fact with a specific group of people. Melatonin has been popular for sleep and overall health for some time. All the people in this study took a melatonin supplement over a period of time on their own initiative, a very select group (not necessarily representative of the general population), which does put the results of this study in question.
So does extra melatonin help slow macular degeneration? Only a well-constructed, double-blind study with large numbers and lots of time will give us conclusive evidence.
In the meantime, go ahead and take extra melatonin as directed on the package, don’t go crazy. We need all the roadblocks we can get.
Til next week,
The good doctor
