Nocturnal Melatonin Ingestion Improves Soccer Players' Short-Term Maximal Performances on the Following Day

• Published in: Research quarterly for exercise and sport Vol. 95; no. 3; pp. 751 - 758
• Main Authors: Ghattassi, Kais, Farjallah, Mohamed Amine, Graja, Ahmed, Romdhani, Mohamed, Boudhina, Nahla, Guimard, Alexandre, Driss, Tarak, Souissi, Nizar, Chtourou, Hamdi, Hammouda, Omar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 02.07.2024; Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Subjects: Athletic Performance - physiology; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Cognition - drug effects; Cognition - physiology; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Exercise Test; Hand Strength - physiology; Humans; Lactic Acid - blood; Life Sciences; Male; Melatonin - administration & dosage; Physical Exertion - physiology; Physical performance; psycho-cognitive performance; reaction time; Reaction Time - drug effects; sleep; Sleep Quality; Soccer - physiology; supplementation; Young Adult; sleep; supplementation; reaction time; Physical performance; psycho-cognitive performance
• ISSN: 0270-1367; 2168-3824; 2168-3824
• DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2024.2303457

Purpose: Exogenous melatonin has been proven to have beneficial effects on sleep. A good sleep quality promotes recovery and improves physical performance. In this sense, the present study aimed to explore the potential effect of nocturnal melatonin ingestion on psycho-cognitive and short-term maximal performances, in the following morning. Method: Twelve professional soccer players (22.9 ± 1.3 years, 1.80 ± 0.05 m, and 72.0 ± 8.8 kg) volunteered to perform two separate testing sessions after either nocturnal melatonin or placebo ingestion. The next morning, participants performed the following psycho-cognitive and physical tests: Hooper's index, reaction time, vigilance, handgrip strength (HG), squat jump (SJ), modified agility T-test (MAT) and Wingate anaerobic test (WanT). Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and blood lactate [La] were recorded, respectively, immediately and 3 min after the WanT. Blood glucose [GL] was measured before and 3 min after WanT. Results: Compared with placebo, melatonin improved subjective sleep quality, short-term maximal performances (HG and SJ), reaction-time, as well as peak and mean WanT powers and decreased fatigue index and RPE scores. However, [La] and [GL] were not affected by melatonin ingestion. Conclusion: Nocturnal melatonin intake before sleep has beneficial effects on cognitive and physical performances the following day.