Melatonin supplements may help the body repair DNA damage linked to night shift work, according to a small clinical trial published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
The findings point to a possible way to counter one of the hidden biological effects of working through the night. However, the researchers stress that larger studies are needed before melatonin can be recommended as a long-term strategy for reducing cancer risk in night shift workers.
How Night Shifts Disrupt the Body
Melatonin is best known as the hormone that helps regulate sleep. It rises in darkness and signals to the body that it is time to rest. For people who work overnight, that natural rhythm can be disrupted.
Normal night-time melatonin production is often suppressed in night shift workers. According to the researchers, this may weaken the body's ability to repair oxidative DNA damage, a type of cellular wear and tear that occurs as part of normal metabolism.
