HormonesMelatonin

Oral lichen planus is associated with lower salivary melatonin levels and poorer sleep quality

OLP patients had significantly lower salivary melatonin levels (p=0.015) and higher scores in the sleep disturbances component of the PSQI (p=0.021) compared to controls. Salivary cortisol levels did not differ between groups (p=0.402).

Last updated: Aug 26, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score32/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Association of Sleep Quality, Nutritional Factors, and Salivary Melatonin and Cortisol Levels with Oral Lichen Planus: A Case-Control Study.

observational

Wegner ÉA, Teixeira JS, Rübensam G, Lindholz CG, Salum FG, Cherubini K · Biomedicines (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A
Intervention: Observational comparison of OLP patients vs. healthy controls
Outcome: Salivary melatonin levels, PSQI sleep disturbance scores, salivary cortisol levels
Effect Size: N/A
Population: 32 OLP patients and 31 controls

Result:

PubMed: 42351703DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines14061275

Mechanism Graph

Sleep disturbances may disrupt melatonin production
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Lower melatonin may reduce anti-inflammatory and antioxidant protection in oral mucosa
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This imbalance could contribute to OLP pathogenesis
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Result: OLP associated with lower melatonin and poorer sleep

Limitations

  • ⚠Exploratory case-control design cannot establish causality
  • ⚠Small sample size (32 OLP patients, 31 controls)
  • ⚠Self-reported sleep quality via PSQI may be subject to recall bias

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main finding of this study?▼

OLP patients had significantly lower salivary melatonin levels and worse sleep quality (specifically sleep disturbances) compared to healthy controls, while cortisol levels did not differ.

How was sleep quality measured?▼

Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale.

Did the study find any dietary differences?▼

Yes, OLP patients had higher consumption of protein, lipids, calories, various fats, cholesterol, iron, zinc, magnesium, sodium, and vitamin E compared to controls.

Can this study prove that poor sleep causes OLP?▼

No, this is an observational case-control study, so it can only show associations, not causation. Further research is needed.

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References

  1. 1.Wegner ÉA, Teixeira JS, Rübensam G, Lindholz CG, Salum FG, Cherubini K. "Association of Sleep Quality, Nutritional Factors, and Salivary Melatonin and Cortisol Levels with Oral Lichen Planus: A Case-Control Study.." Biomedicines, 2026. PMID: 42351703 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines14061275
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.