Abstract
Experimental studies suggest that melatonin has a protective effect against breast cancer. Exposure to light suppresses melatonin secretion, but to a lesser degree in totally blind persons. Breast cancer was investigated in a cohort of 15 412 Norwegian visually impaired women. The risk among totally blind women was 0.64 (95% CI = 0.21–1.49, 5 cases only), and for those who became blind before age of 65, the SIR was 0.51 (95% CI = 0.11–1.49). Our findings give support to the ‘melatonin hypothesis’. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com
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Kliukiene, J., Tynes, T. & Andersen, A. Risk of breast cancer among Norwegian women with visual impairment. Br J Cancer 84, 397–399 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1054/bjoc.2000.1617
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1054/bjoc.2000.1617
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