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Gesundheitswesen 2002; 64(5): 278-283
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-28352
Originalarbeit
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Licht, Melatonin und innere Krebserkrankungen - Aktuelle Fakten und Forschungsperspektiven

Light, Melatonin and Internal Cancers - Recent Facts and Research PerspectivesT. C. Erren1 , R. G. Stevens2
  • 1Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits- und Sozialmedizin, Klinikum der Universität zu Köln, Germany (Direktor: Professor Dr. med. C. Piekarski)
  • 2Department of Community Medicine, UConn Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
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Publication History

Publication Date:
08 May 2002 (online)

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Zusammenfassung

Sichtbares Licht von ausreichender Intensität hemmt die Biosynthese von Melatonin und es gibt zahlreiche experimentelle Hinweise, dass Melatonin vor Krebs schützen kann. Die Verifizierung oder Falsifizierung der Hypothese, dass Kunstlicht - oder sogar das Sonnenlicht selbst - die Melatoninproduktion so unterdrückt, dass es zu mehr oder früheren Krebserkrankungen innerer Organe kommt, ist von Bedeutung für die öffentliche Gesundheit, da aufgrund der Zahl von ubiquitär exponierten Menschen selbst kleine Risikoerhöhungen zu vielen Erkrankungsfällen führen könnten. Aktuelle epidemiologische Studien von Personen, die im Rahmen von Schichtarbeit gegenüber anthropogenem Licht-bei-Nacht exponiert sind, und erste Auswertungen von natürlichen Lichtexperimenten bei blinden Personen und bei Bewohnern der Arktis sind mit der Möglichkeit vereinbar, dass Licht über Melatonin - zumindest hormonabhängige - Krebsentwicklungen beeinflussen kann. Zur systematischen Untersuchung der Wirkung geografisch unterschiedlicher Lichtintensitäten auf die Melatoninproduktion beim Menschen wird eine pan-europäische Studie vorgeschlagen. Weitere epidemiologische Untersuchungen können zum Verständnis der pathophysiologischen Zusammenhänge zwischen Licht, Melatonin und der Biologie des Menschen beitragen.

Abstract

Visible light of sufficient intensity inhibits melatonin biosynthesis and numerous experimental studies suggest that melatonin may protect against cancer. From a public health point of view it is important to verify or falsify the hypothesis that artificial light - or even sunlight itself - suppresses melatonin production sufficiently to increase the risk of developing cancers of internal organs. Since humans are exposed universally, even small risk elevations could lead to numerous cases. Recent epidemiological studies of people exposed to anthropogenic light-at-night in the course of shift work and first evaluations of natural light experiments in blind people and in residents of the Arctic are compatible with the possibility that light can influence - at least hormone- dependent - cancer developments via melatonin. To systematically investigate the effect of geographically different light intensities on melatonin production in man, a pan-European study is suggested. Further epidemiological investigations can contribute to the understanding of the patho-physiological relationships between light, melatonin and human biology.

Schlüsselwörter

Licht - Melatonin - Krebs - Ubiquitäre Exposition - Dosimetrie

Key words

Light - Melatonin - Cancer - Ubiquitous Exposure - Dosimetry

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Dr. Thomas Erren

Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeitsmedizin, Sozialmedizin und Sozialhygiene, Klinikum der Universität zu Köln

Joseph-Stelzmann-Straße 9

50924 Köln (Lindenthal)

Email: tim.erren@uni-koeln.de