Interactive effect of melatonin and combined training on some components of physical fitness and serum levels of malondialdhyde in postmenopausal women with type 2

Melatonin can play an important role in reducing oxidative stress products. This study was performed with aim to investigate the interactive effect of eight weeks of taking melatonin and combined training on some components of physical fitness and serum levels of malondialdhyde (MDA) in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes.

This randomized controlled clinical trial was performed on 18 non-active postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes in Mashhad in 2018. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups of combined training + melatonin (n=10) and combined training + placebo (n=8). The subjects in first group received daily one tablet of melatonin (3 mg) for eight weeks and second group received the same amount of placebo. Combined training program was 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week. Body composition, physical fitness and biochemical variables were measured in two stages of the beginning and the end of the study. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 23), and independent t-test and dependent t-test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The use of melatonin with combined training significantly reduced the percentage of fat and MDA levels and significantly increased the amount of peak oxygen consumption and muscle strength in the movements of the chest, axillary, throat and back thigh (p≤0.05). However, combining training alone significantly increased the amount of peak oxygen consumption and muscle strength in the movements of the chest, axillary, throat and back thigh (p≤0.05). Also, despite the differences between two groups, but no statistically significant difference was observed in none of the variables (p>0.05).

The interaction of melatonin and combined training improves the peak oxygen consumption, muscle strength, reduces body fat percentage and also free radical side products specially MDA and is effective in improving the risk factors for type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women.