4 replies to this topic

[#1hit]

Does anybody know the answer to this question? It seems plausible because if the exercise is intense enough, say Dual n back, then the gains are made when the brain can't handle a certain level and thus has to reorganize itself and strengthen that area of the brain, which takes atleast a day or so after the brain strain, often more.

[Raptor87]

I know that regular exercise while supplementing with Melatonin before doubles the GH the brain produces. Google it, you should find it.

[APBT]

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2006 Apr;96(6):729-39. Epub 2006 Feb 28.
Effects of resistance exercise session after oral ingestion of melatonin on physiological and performance responses of adult men.

Mero AA, Vähälummukka M, Hulmi JJ, Kallio P, von Wright A.

Source

Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland. antti.mero@sport.jyu.fi

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of a heavy resistance exercise session (RES) with the oral daytime ingestion of melatonin on the physiological responses and acute performance. In a randomized and double-blind controlled study 10 healthy male subjects undertook an 80 min intensive hypertrophic RES for major muscles of the lower and upper extremities. The subjects were studied on two occasions receiving either melatonin (6 mg) or placebo (6 mg) in random order 60 min before each RES. Blood samples were taken from an antecubital vein both in fasting conditions in the morning and before RES (pre 60 min, pre 0 min), during RES (middle) and after RES (post 0 min, post 15 min, post 30 min, post 60 min). Maximal jumping ability and maximal strength in bench press and squat were measured before and immediately after RES in which there were no differences between the melatonin and placebo groups. The serum melatonin concentration increased significantly (P<0.05-0.001) in the melatonin group following oral ingestion of melatonin and was elevated at every time point after that. The concentration reached a peak value of 1171.3+/-235.2 pg/ml in 60 min at pre 0. Serum melatonin increased slightly but significantly (P<0.05) also in the placebo group just before RES, in the middle of RES and after RES (post 0, post 15). There were large differences (P<0.01-0.001) in the serum melatonin concentration between the groups at all time points. There were no differences in the growth hormone (GH), testosterone and cortisol peak concentrations at any time points between the groups but the area under the curve of GH during RES (P<0.01) and during the 60 min after RES (P<0.05) was lower in the melatonin condition. In conclusion, the present findings give evidence that oral ingestion of melatonin (6 mg) during daytime with heavy resistance exercise may slightly decrease GH concentrations. On the other hand, it seems that melatonin administration during daytime does not have any acute (1-2 h) effects either on the maximal jumping ability or on the maximal strength.

PMID: 16506061 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Raptor87]

http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC2174513/

Melatonin and resistance exercise alone have been shown to increase the levels of growth hormone (GH). The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of ingestion of a single dose of melatonin and heavy resistance exercise on serum GH, somatostatin (SST), and other hormones of the GH/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) axis. Physically active males (n = 30) and females (n = 30) were randomly assigned to ingest either a melatonin supplement at 0.5 mg or 5.0 mg, or 1.0 mg of dextrose placebo. After a baseline blood sample, participants ingested the supplement and underwent blood sampling every 15 min for 60 min, at which point they underwent a single bout of resistance exercise with the leg press for 7 sets of 7 reps at 85% 1-RM. After exercise, participants provided additional blood samples every 15 min for a total of 120 min. Serum free GH, SST, IGF-1, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-3 were determined with ELISA. Data were evaluated as the peak pre- and post-exercise values subtracted from baseline and the delta values analyzed with separate three-way ANOVA (p < 0.05). In males, when compared to placebo, 5.0 mg melatonin caused GH to increase (p = 0.017) and SST to decrease prior to exercise (p = 0.031), whereas both 0.5 and 5.0 mg melatonin were greater than placebo after exercise (p = 0.045) and less than placebo for SST. No significant differences occurred for IGF-1; however, males were shown to have higher levels of IGFBP-1 independent of supplementation (p = 0.004). The 5.0 mg melatonin dose resulted in higher IGFBP-3 in males (p = 0.017). In conclusion, for males 5.0 mg melatonin appears to increase serum GH while concomitantly lowering SST levels; however, when combined with resistance exercise both melatonin doses positively impacts GH levels in a manner not entirely dependent on SST.

http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/8370132

CONCLUSIONS:

Our data indicate that oral administration of melatonin to normal human males increases basal GH release and GH responsiveness to GHRH through the same pathways as pyridostigmine. Therefore it is likely that melatonin plays this facilitatory role at the hypothalamic level by inhibiting endogenous somatostatin release, although with a lower potency than pyridostigmine. The physiological role of melatonin in GH neuroregulation remains to be established.

Edited by Brainfogged, 22 March 2012 - 01:52 AM.

[Raptor87]

In conclusion, the present findings give evidence that oral ingestion of melatonin (6 mg) during daytime with heavy resistance exercise may slightly decrease GH concentrations.

Interesting with the conflicting data. I would need to look more in to it but I have so much to do right now. But if you find anything please let us know!