Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of melatonin therapy in hypertensive patients based on the assessment of daily blood pressure monitoring.
Materials and methods: 30 men with arterial hypertension aged from 27 to 58 years, mean age 45.5 ± 9.2 years, were included in the study. Daily ambulatory blood pressure monitoring with a portable BR-102 Plus blood pressure registrar (Schiller) was conducted on the first day of the study and on the next day after receiving a therapeutic dose of melatonin. Melatonin (Melaxen, Unipharm) was administered on the second day of the study, 3 mg once daily, 9 am–10 am. Average value of 24-hour, day-and night-time brachial systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were assessed.
Results: Average 24-hour SBP and DBP values decreased after melatonin intake – from 124.6 ± 12.1 to 121.0 ± 10.2 mmHg (p<0.03), and 79.7 ± 8.8 to 77.3 ± 6.5 mmHg (p<0.03), respectively, as well as average day-time SBP and DBP values – from 128.2 ± 13.2 to 122.5 ± 9.9 mmHg (p<0.003) and 82.3 ± 9.7 to 78.5 ± 7.2 mmHg (p<0.006). Average night-time DBP and SBP values did not change (p>0.05). There were no side-effects observed after melatonin treatment.
Conclusion: A single administration of melatonin in a therapeutic dose causes a short-term reduction in blood pressure, predominantly due to the reduction of 24-hour and day-time systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Further studies are needed to prove the efficacy of melatonin in arterial hypertension treatment.