With funding from CCS, Dr Parveen Bhatti finds melatonin supplements can increase the body's ability to repair DNA damage among night shift workers.
Over-the-counter melatonin supplements can increase the body's ability to repair DNA damage among night shift workers, according to a first-of-its-kind study led by CCS-funded researcher Dr Parveen Bhatti.
Previous studies have found that night shift workers’ bodies produce less melatonin, which can affect their bodies’ ability to repair oxidative DNA damage, increasing the risk of developing certain cancers (such as breast and prostate).
With support from a 2022 CCS Action Grant, Dr Bhatti’s team at BC Cancer studied whether taking melatonin could help repair DNA damage in 40 night shift workers. Half of the group took a melatonin pill with food an hour before their daytime sleep for 4 weeks; the rest took a placebo pill instead. All participants were night shift workers who worked at least 2 consecutive night shifts each week.
The results of the study indicated better DNA repair in those who took the supplement than in those who didn’t. Dr Bhatti’s study suggests that larger studies that vary the dose of melatonin are crucial to understanding more about this strategy and assessing any long-term effects.
With funding from the Workplace Cancer Research Fund – a partnership between CCS and 14 workers’ compensation boards and labour unions – and CIHR-ICR, Dr Bhatti is continuing to grow his research with a Workplace Cancer Research Grant. This project is specifically aimed at understanding how changes in the gut microbiome may cause cancer in night shift workers.
Click here to learn more about the Workplace Cancer Research Grants.