Serum Nocturn
Serum
Nocturnal Melatonin in Neoplastic and Non-Neoplastic (Non Erosive) Upper
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Ehab F Moustafa1,
Hussein El Amin2, Sahar M Hassany1, Essam Abdel
Mohsen2, Amal M Abdel-Aal3and Amal A Mahmoud3
Departments of Tropical
Medicine and Gastroenterology1, Internal Medicine2 and
Clinical Pathology3, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt. [email protected]
Abstract: Background: Melatonin is a
powerful antioxidant and scavenger of free radicals. These properties
contribute to its strong anti-inflammatory effect. In addition it was known to
be a natural oncostatic compound. Aim of the work: to
investigate serum nocturnal melatonin in neoplastic and non-neoplastic (non
erosive) upper gastrointestinal tract disorders. Patients and methods: Fifty-three
subjects were included in the study (30 males and 23 females). Sixteen with
Cancer stomach, 9 with cancer esophagus, 12 with functional dyspepsia, 6 with
NERD and 10 healthy subjects as a control. Serum melatonin was measured at 11
p.m (nocturnal) and 6 a.m. Results: Cancer stomach and cancer
esophagus patients had significantly lower nocturnal melatonin concentration
than control, 29.35±23.85 & 16.01±10.70 versus 97.72± 9.41pg/ml (p<0.5),
while functional Dyspepsia and NERD patients had significantly higher nocturnal
melatonin concentration than control, 167.67±88.21 & 197.84±67.02 versus
97.72± 9.41pg/ml (p< 0.5). Serum nocturnal melatonin in neoplastic
upper GIT disorders (cancer stomach and cancer esophagus patients) was
significantly lower than in non neoplastic non erosive upper GIT disorders
(functional dyspepsia and NERD), 24.55±20.89
versus 177.73±81.05 pg/ml (p< 0.5). Conclusion:Serum nocturnal
melatonin in neoplastic upper GIT disorders (cancer stomach and cancer
esophagus patients) was significantly lower than in non neoplastic non erosive
upper GIT disorders (functional dyspepsia and NERD), this reduction of nocturnal
melatonin supports its role as a natural oncostatic agent. Studying the benefit
of adding melatonin to standard treatment of neoplastic upper GIT disorders
(surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy) is recommended.
[Ehab F Moustafa, H El Amin, Sahar M Hassany,
Essam Abdel Mohsen, Amal M Abdel-Aal and Amal A Mahmoud. Serum
Nocturnal Melatonin in Neoplastic and Non-Neoplastic (Non Erosive) Upper
Gastrointestinal Disorders. J Am Sci 2012;8(10):490-498].
(ISSN: 1545-1003).http://www.jofamericanscience.org. 71
Key words: nocturnal melatonin, Cancer stomach, cancer
esophagus, NERD, Functional dyspepsia Full Text 71
