Lee Swanson Research Update

Melatonin Eases Irritable Bowel Syndrome Pain

September 2005

IBS

Supplementation with melatonin may decrease abdominal pain in sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with sleep disturbances, according to a study published in the May issue of Gut.

Forty IBS patients (aged 20 to 64 years) with sleep disturbances were randomly assigned to receive either three milligrams per day of melatonin or placebo for two weeks. Subjects answered bowel, sleep and psychological questions and underwent testing of gas pressures and overnight polysomnography (monitoring of normal and abnormal activity during sleep) before and after treatment.

Researchers found melatonin supplementation significantly decreased abdominal pain and increased rectal pain threshold. Researchers concluded melatonin alleviates abdominal pain in IBS patients with sleep disturbance independent of its action on sleep disturbance and psychological profile.

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