Intervention with exogenous melatonin: reduction of the effects of the Climacteric Syndrome in night health workers of a hospital in São Paulo

• Grant number: 22/04365-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: November 01, 2022
• End date: November 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Claudia Roberta de Castro Moreno
• Grantee: Susy Pereira Saraiva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/24327-5 - Melatonin physiology and pathophysiology, basic and clinical studies: characterization of the primary and secundary Hypomelatoninemia Syndromes, AP.TEM

Abstract

Women report sleep problems from perimenopause to postmenopause, in addition to other symptoms such as hot flashes and weight gain, problems that are often accompanied by depression and anxiety. Considering that night work reduces the production of melatonin, consequently modifying the response to steroid hormones, it is assumed that the climacteric has its effects potentiated among night workers. This study aims to supplement melatonin in health professionals exposed to night work in order to reduce climacteric effects, particularly on sleep and hormonal profile. This project is part of the thematic "Melatonin, physiology and pathophysiology, basic and clinical studies: characterization of the hypomelatoninemic syndrome and the role of therapeutic replacement with melatonin", coordinated by Prof. José Cipolla-Neto (Fapesp Process 2019/24327-5). In this subproject, coordinated by Prof. Claudia RC Moreno, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial will be carried out in a large hospital located in the city of São Paulo-SP, where 80 workers will be evaluated, 40 from the night shift and 40 from the day shift, that are in the climacteric phase and that work in the 12hx36h system. Before and after the intervention, the workers will fill out questionnaires to assess climacteric symptoms, chronotype, sociodemographic aspects, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, existence of stress and quality of sleep. It is expected that the workers in the intervention group show improvement in symptoms related to climacteric compared to the control group. In addition, symptom improvement is expected to be greater in the night intervention group compared to the day intervention group. (AU)