Background: Intense physical exercise leads to inflammation, oxidative stress and muscle damage, and these responses are of greater magnitude in people with obesity. Melatonin (MLT) is considered an endogenous antioxidant which may have beneficial effects against inflammation, oxidative stress and promote tissue repair after exercise. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of MLT on inflammatory parameters, oxidative stress and muscle damage in people with overweight/obesity after a high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE). Methods: A total of 23 subjects with obesity (9 men and 14 women) age: 33.26 ± 9.81 years, BMI: 37.75 ± 8.87 kg.m⁻² were randomized to participate in two experimental sessions: HIIE + Placebo and HIIE + MLT (3 mg). The HIIE protocol corresponds to 8 intervals of 1 min (90% of the maximal aerobic power (MAP)) alternating with 2 min recovery (45% of the MAP). Blood samples were drawn before and 5 min after each exercise session. Results: MLT ingestion attenuated the increase of inflammation (C-reactive protein, white blood cells (P < 0.001, ηp² = 0.45; for both) and Neutrophils (P < 0.01, ηp² = 0.36)) and hepatic and muscle damage (Aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.01, ηp² = 0.25), Alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.01, ηp² = 0.27) and Creatine kinase (P = 0.02, ηp² = 0.23). MLT also attenuated the exercise induced lipid and protein peroxidation (i.e., Malondialdehyde (P = 0.03, ηp² = 0.19) and AOPP (P < 0.001, ηp² = 0.55)). Concerning the antioxidant status, MLT intake increased Thiol (P < 0.01, ηp² = 0.26) and Catalase (P < 0.01, ηp² = 0.32) and decreased Uric acid (P = 0.02, ηp² = 0.2) and Total bilirubin (P < 0.01, ηp² = 0.33). Conclusions: MLT intake before HIIE reduced muscle damage by modulating oxidative stress and preventing overexpression of the pro-inflammatory mediators in people with obesity.

Aim: To assess the safety and the effect of a nocturnal melatonin (MEL) ingestion on postural balance, functional mobility and fall risk, the following morning in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Fourteen adults with relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) (28.36 ± 6.81 years) were evaluated before and after nocturnal ingestion of MEL (6 mg) or placebo (PLA). Evaluations included a posturographic test of static bipedal postural balance with dual-task in eyes open (EO) and eyes closed conditions, and a clinical test of unipedal balance. The physical performance tests were: Timed Up and Go test (TUGT) (mobility), Four Square Step Test (FSST), and Timed 25-foot walk test (T25FWT) (walking speed). Cognitive performance (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Simple Reaction Time (SRT) tests) and sleep quality (Spiegel’s sleep questionnaire (SSQ)] were also assessed. Results: In EO condition, MEL decreased the posturographic parameters [center of pressure (CoP) sway area (CoPAr), CoP path length (CoPL) and CoPL in mediolateral axis (CoPLX)] more than PLA by 12.48% (p = 0.0004), 14.25% (p = 0.04) and 15.82% (p = 0.0006), respectively. Durations of TUGT and FSST decreased following MEL session more than the PLA one by 14.52% (p = 0.01) and 19.85% (p = 0.0006), respectively. MEL increased the unipedal stance time, SSQ and MoCA scores more than PLA by 49.81% (p = 0.04), 32.21% (p = 0.004) and 11.87% (p = 0.008), respectively. Conclusion: This pilot study showed that acute nocturnal MEL ingestion seems to be safe for enhancing postural balance, functional mobility and fall risk in RR-MS adults probably through improving sleep quality and cognitive function. Clinical trial registration: This study was retrospectively registered at the Pan African Clinical Trial Registry database on 20 June 2020 (PACTR202007922243550)

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of intradialytic concurrent (resistance–endurance) training combined with melatonin (MEL) supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular damage in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: Thirty-two HD patients were randomly assigned to three groups: Exercise (EX)-MEL, EX-Placebo (PLA), and Control (C)-PLA. Participants in the EX-MEL and EX-PLA groups underwent 12 weeks of concurrent training. Before nocturnal sleep, they ingested either 3 mg of MEL (EX-MEL) or a placebo (EX-PLA and C-PLA). Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention to assess lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde (MDA)], antioxidant biomarkers [ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), reduced glutathione (GSH), total thiol (THIOL)], total bilirubin (TBIL), uric acid (UA), biomarkers of muscle and liver damage [aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and Gamma-glutamyltransferase (Gamma-GT)], and inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP)]. Results: EX-MEL demonstrated a decrease in MDA (p < 0.05) and CRP (p < 0.05), and an increase in FRAP (p < 0.05) pre- and post-training. Both EX-MEL and EX-PLA showed an increase in GSH (p < 0.001, and p < 0.05, respectively) and THIOL (p < 0.01, and p < 0.05, respectively) pre- and post-training. No significant changes were observed in TBIL, UA, ASAT, ALAT, CK, LDH, or Gamma-GT pre- and post-training across all groups. Conclusion: Concurrent training combined with MEL supplementation enhances oxidant–antioxidant balance and reduces inflammation in HD patients more effectively than intradialytic concurrent training alone.

To investigate the gender difference effect on postural balance, functional mobility, and fall risk after performing a fatiguing task in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS).Eleven women (30.91 ± 8....

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of intradialytic concurrent (resistance-endurance) training combined with melatonin (MEL) supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular damage in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: Thirty-two hemodialysis (HD) patients were randomly assigned to three groups: Exercise (EX)-MEL, EX-Placebo (PLA), and Control (C)-PLA. Participants in the EX-MEL and EX-PLA groups underwent 12 weeks of concurrent training. Before nocturnal sleep, they ingested either 3 mg of MEL (EX-MEL) or a placebo (EX-PLA and C-PLA). Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention to assess lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde (MDA)], antioxidant biomarkers [ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), reduced glutathione (GSH), total thiol (THIOL)], total bilirubin (TBIL), uric acid (UA), biomarkers of muscle and liver damage [aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Gamma-glutamyltransferase (Gamma-GT)], and inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP)]. Results: EX-MEL demonstrated a decrease of MDA (p<0.05) and CRP (p<0.05), and an increase of FRAP (p<0.05) pre- and post-training. Both EX-MEL and EX-PLA showed an increase in GSH (p<0.001, and p<0.05, respectively) and THIOL (p<0.01, and p<0.05, respectively) pre- and post-training. No significant changes were observed in TBIL, UA, ASAT, ALAT, CK, LDH, and Gamma-GT pre- and post-training across all groups. Conclusion: Concurrent training combined with MEL supplementation enhances oxidant-antioxidant balance and reduces inflammation in HD patients more effectively than intradialytic concurrent training alone.