Inpharma 1520 - 14 Jan 2006

■ Melatonin is effective in reducing symptoms inwomen with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), accordingto researchers from Singapore. In their crossoverstudy, 24 women were enrolled to receive oralmelatonin 3 mg/day (n = 12) or placebo, for 8 weeks;after a 4-week wash-out period the treatments werethen switched for a further 8 weeks. In the17 evaluable patients, melatonin treatment wasassociated with significantly greater improvements inmean IBS symptom, abdominal pain and distension,and abnormal defecation sensation scores, comparedwith placebo. However, changes in anxiety, depressionand well-being scores were comparable between thetwo treatment groups. No patients stopped treatmentbecause of adverse events.Lu WZ, et al. Melatonin improves bowel symptoms in female patients withirritable bowel syndrome: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. AlimentaryPharmacology and Therapeutics 22: 927-934, No. 10, 15 Nov2005 801029716

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Inpharma 14 Jan 2006 No. 15201173-8324/10/1520-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved