Melatonin May Cut Risk for Age-Related Eye Disease

RobTuck · 2024-09-20T13:58:34.801Z

METHODOLOGY:

Researchers analyzed data from the TriNetX database, covering electronic medical records across the United States from December 2023 to March 2024.
The retrospective study included patients aged ≥ 50 years, divided into groups based on their history of AMD and melatonin medication codes between November 2008 and November 2023.
Propensity score matching was used to compare melatonin users and nonusers for the risk for developing any form of AMD or the progression to exudative AMD from the nonexudative form of the condition.

Use of melatonin was associated with a 58% reduction in the risk for developing AMD, according to the researchers.
In people with nonexudative AMD, use of the supplement was linked to a 56% lower risk for progression to exudative AMD.
The findings were consistent across age groups, suggesting melatonin’s benefits may extend to older populations at higher risk for AMD, the researchers reported.