Influence of Acute Melatonin Administration on Human Physical Performance: A Systematic Review.

Context: Melatonin is an ancient molecule with a wide range of functions in mammals, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypothermic effects among others. However, the influence of acute melatonin administration on human physical performance is debatable.

Objective: To summarize available data from controlled trials about the effects of acute melatonin administration on human physical performance, especially with respect to strength, power, speed, and short- and long-term continuous exercise.

Melatonin Potentiates Exercise-Induced Increases in Skeletal Muscle PGC-1 and Optimizes Glycogen Replenishment.

Compelling evidence has demonstrated the effect of melatonin on exhaustive exercise tolerance and its modulatory role in muscle energy substrates at the end of exercise. In line with this, PGC-1 and NRF-1 also seem to act on physical exercise tolerance and metabolic recovery after exercise. However, the literature still lacks reports on these proteins after exercise until exhaustion for animals treated with melatonin.

Effect of 12-wk Training in Ovariectomised Rats on PGC-1α, NRF-1 and Energy Substrates.

Metabolic diseases are associated with hypoestrogenism owing to their lower energy expenditure and consequent imbalance. Physical training promotes energy expenditure through PGC-1α and NRF-1, which are muscle proteins of the oxidative metabolism. However, the influence of physical training on protein expression in individuals with hypoestrogenism remains uncertain.

Acute melatonin administration improves exercise tolerance and the metabolic recovery after exhaustive effort.

The present study investigated the effects of acute melatonin administration on the biomarkers of energy substrates, GLUT4, and FAT/CD36 of skeletal muscle and its performance in rats subjected to exhaustive swimming exercise at an intensity corresponding to the maximal aerobic capacity (tlim). The incremental test was performed to individually determine the exercise intensity prescription and 48 h after, the animals received melatonin (10 mg·kg) or vehicles 30 min prior to tlim. Afterwards, the animals were euthanized 1 or 3 h after the exhaustion for blood and muscles storage.