Journal of Education and Health Promotion

The effect of melatonin on the lipid levels in menopausal women: A double‑blind, controlled, clinical trial

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Nehleh Parandavar
. Mohsen Hojat
. Khadijeh Abdali 1
. Sara Keshtgar 2
. Masoumeh Emamghoreishi 3
. Babak Shirazi Yeganeh 4

1 Research Center for Social Determinants of Health, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Departments of Midwifery,

2 Research Center for Social Determinants of Health, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Departments of Physiology,

3 Research Center for Social Determinants of Health, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Departments of Pharmacology Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

4 Research Center for Social Determinants of Health, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Departments of Pathology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are the major public health problem in many countries
and are responsible for more than half of the deaths in above 50‑year‑old women. The most common
curable risk factor of these disorders is hypoestrogenemia resulting from menopause. The present
study aimed to investigate the effect of melatonin on plasma lipid levels in menopausal women.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present double‑blind, placebo‑controlled, clinical trial was
conducted in 2013–2014 on 240 menopausal women between 40 and 60 years old referring to
the Gynecology and obstetrics clinics of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences who were randomly
divided into two groups. The intervention group received 3 mg melatonin tablets and the control
group received the placebo for 3 months. The data were gathered using the demographic information
questionnaire and lipid profile test before and 3 months after the intervention. Then, the data were
analyzed through the SPSS statistical software (version 16). The repeated measures analysis of
variance, the least significant difference, the independent‑sample t, the Chi‑square, and Fisher’s
exact tests were done for data analysis.
RESULTS: The two study groups were similar regarding the demographic and clinical variables
at the beginning of the study. In the melatonin group, the amount of triglyceride increased from
140.34 ± 48.29 before the study to 151.24 ± 54.60 3 months after the intervention and no significant
difference was observed between the two groups in this regard (confidence interval [CI] = 95%,
P > 0.05). In addition, no significant difference was found between the two groups concerning
low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol level (CI = 95%, P = 0.125).
CONCLUSION: Melatonin was not effective in reduction of lipid levels. However, further controlled
studies are needed to be conducted on the issue.

Keywords

Cardiovascular diseases
lipid profile
melatonin
menopausal women
menopause
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 8, Issue 11
November 2018
Pages 1-7

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