Melatonin and Oxidative DNA Damage Repair in Night‑Shift Workers
Summary
This randomized controlled trial tested whether taking 3 mg of melatonin before daytime sleep could improve the body’s ability to repair cell damage in night-shift workers. Over four weeks, participants were assigned to either melatonin or placebo, and researchers measured markers of oxidative DNA damage repair. The results showed a borderline significant improvement in repair activity during daytime sleep among those who took melatonin, though no clear effects were seen during night work itself.
Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls
Working nights can suppress melatonin production and increase cellular stress, which may raise long-term health risks. This study suggests that taking melatonin before sleeping in the day could help the body repair some of that damage more effectively. While the benefits were modest, the findings point toward a possible protective role for melatonin beyond its use as a sleep aid.
Notes
Mechanistic endpoints; post‑night context.