JAMA Ophthalmol

Can melatonin protect against age-related macular degeneration?

June 11, 2024

In this cohort study, melatonin use was associated with a decreased risk of development and progression of AMD. Although lifestyle factors may have influenced the association, the findings provide a rationale for further research into melatonin as a preventive therapy against AMD.

• Patients ages 50 years or older, 60 years or older, and 70 years or older with no history of AMD (AMD-naive group) and with a history of nonexudative AMD (nonexudative AMD group) were queried for instances of melatonin medication codes. Patients were then classified into either a melatonin group or a control group based on the presence of medication codes for melatonin.
• Among 121,523 patients 50 years or older in the AMD-naive group, melatonin use was associated with a 58% reduced risk of developing AMD (risk ratio [RR], 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28-0.62).
• Among 66,253 patients ages 50 years or older in the nonexudative AMD group, melatonin was associated with a 56% reduced risk of AMD progression to exudative AMD (RR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.34-0.56).

Source:

Jeong H, et al. (2024, June 6). JAMA Ophthalmol. Melatonin and Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38842832/