Evaluating the Effect of Melatonin on Pain Control and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Almost everyone experiences low back pain at some point in his or her lives. Low back pain is becoming more prevalent in low-income and middle-income countries much more rapidly than in high-income countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of melatonin on pain control and quality of life in patients with chronic low back pain. Sixty patients with low back pain aged 45 and 75 years, with a history of back pain more for than 12 weeks and visual analogue scale (VAS) score more than three, who were referred to pain clinics of Akhtar Hospitals (Tehran, Iran) during June to August 2018. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the melatonin or control groups. Control group received diclofenac sodium 25mg tablet two or three times daily and the experimental or melatonin group, in addition to receiving diclofenac sodium 25mg tablet twice a day, received melatonin tablet (3mg) 30 to 40 minutes before bedtime for four weeks. Before the beginning of the study, at the end of the fourth week, both groups underwent VAS test and the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were measured in these groups and they were asked to complete the quality of life questionnaire. Analysis of the data done by using covariance and Shapiro-Wilk tests through SPSS 22. Melatonin consumption reduced the pain and level of IL-1β and TNF-α in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.05). However, use of melatonin did not have a significant effect on quality of life (p>0.05). In general, it can be stated that use of melatonin, in addition to reducing the pain, reduces the anti-inflammatory factors in patients with chronic low back pain. Based on the results of this study, melatonin can be recommended as a supplement for treatment of chronic low back pain.