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Impact of Melatonin Supplementation on Sports Performance and Circulating Biomarkers in Highly Trained Athletes: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Nutrients
January 1, 1970
Ana M Celorrio San Miguel et al. (6 authors)
Systematic ReviewJournal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to critically review the effects of melatonin supplementation on sports performance and health biomarkers in highly trained athletes.

Results Summary

Melatonin supplementation improved antioxidant status, inflammatory response, and reversed liver and muscle damage. Moderate effects were observed on glycemia, cholesterol, triglycerides, and creatinine, with promising but inconclusive data on hematological biomarkers, hormonal responses, and sports performance.

Population

Highly trained athletes

Effective Dosage

5 mg to 100 mg, administered before or after exercise

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (12)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
melatonin supplementation
increase
antioxidant status
highly trained athletes
-
showed improvements
#1
melatonin supplementation
decrease
inflammatory response
highly trained athletes
-
showed improvements
#2
melatonin supplementation
decrease
liver damage
highly trained athletes
-
reversed
#3
melatonin supplementation
decrease
muscle damage
highly trained athletes
-
reversed
#4
melatonin supplementation
neutral
glycemia
highly trained athletes
-
moderate effects on modulating
#5
melatonin supplementation
neutral
total cholesterol
highly trained athletes
-
moderate effects on modulating
#6
melatonin supplementation
neutral
triglycerides
highly trained athletes
-
moderate effects on modulating
#7
melatonin supplementation
neutral
creatinine
highly trained athletes
-
moderate effects on modulating
#8
melatonin supplementation
increase
hematological biomarkers
highly trained athletes
-
promising data were found regarding the potential benefits
#9
melatonin supplementation
increase
hormonal responses
highly trained athletes
-
promising data were found regarding the potential benefits
#10
melatonin supplementation
increase
sports performance
highly trained athletes
-
promising data were found regarding the potential benefits
#11
melatonin supplementation
increase
sports performance
highly trained athletes
-
an indirect effect
#12
Abstract

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5 methoxytryptamine) is an indolic neurohormone that modulates a variety of physiological functions due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory properties. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to critically review the effects of melatonin supplementation in sports performance and circulating biomarkers related to the health status of highly trained athletes. Data were obtained by performing searches in the following three bibliography databases: Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus. The terms used were "Highly Trained Athletes", "Melatonin", and "Sports Performance", "Health Biomarkers" using "Humans" as a filter. The search update was carried out in February 2024 from original articles published with a controlled trial design. The PRISMA rules, the modified McMaster critical review form for quantitative studies, the PEDro scale, and the Cochrane risk of bias were applied. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 21 articles were selected out of 294 references. The dose of melatonin supplemented in the trials ranged between 5 mg to 100 mg administered before or after exercise. The outcomes showed improvements in antioxidant status and inflammatory response and reversed liver damage and muscle damage. Moderate effects on modulating glycemia, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and creatinine were reported. Promising data were found regarding the potential benefits of melatonin in hematological biomarkers, hormonal responses, and sports performance. Therefore, the true efficiency of melatonin to directly improve sports performance remains to be assessed. Nevertheless, an indirect effect of melatonin supplementation in sports performance could be evaluated through improvements in health biomarkers.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
MelatoninHumansDietary SupplementsAthletic PerformanceBiomarkersRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAthletesAntioxidantsMaleFemaleAdult
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations9
Citations/Year9.0
Relative Citation Ratio4.22
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.64
Normalized Score0.80
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