Aims: 

Among other mechanisms that underlie the skeletal muscle damage in the Duchenne muscular dystrophy, an increased oxidative stress and inflammation have been proposed. The aim of this study was to assess whether the administration of melatonin, a known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecule, may reduce these pathogenic events.

Methods: 

Eight Duchenne patients, aged 18-24 years, were treated with 60 mg/day melatonin during 6 months. Information was given and authorization obtained from the patients and their parents and from the hospital's Ethical Committee, and the Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association was observed. Blood samples were taken before (basal) and 3 and 6 months after starting melatonin therapy. Plasma lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitrite, and cytokines (IL-1b, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, INFg and TNFa), and the erythrocyte GSSH/GSH ratio, and glutathione peroxidase (GRx), reductase (GRd), glutathione transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, were measured.

Results: 

Treatment with melatonin resulted in a time-dependent significant decrease in LPO, GSSG/GSH ratio, and GRd and SOD activities. Nitrite and IL-1b, IL-6, INFg and TNFa, were also reduced by melatonin.

Conclusions: 

Melatonin therapy counteracted the oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory responses in Duchenne's patients after 6 months of treatment, improving significantly the quality of life of these patients.

Supported by grants: RD06/0013/0008 and CTS-101.