Benefits of 12-week self-paced training combined with melatonin supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammation, hyperlipidemia, and body composition in multiple sclerosis patients: A randomized controlled trial.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized controlled trial with four parallel intervention arms
PubMed 42217742 · doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2026.111968
What was done
Forty-nine patients living with multiple sclerosis were randomized into four parallel groups for a 12-week intervention: training plus melatonin (TMG, n=11), training plus placebo (TPG, n=11), melatonin alone (MG, n=15), or placebo alone (PG, n=12). Melatonin or matching placebo was taken at 3 mg per night. Exercise groups performed concurrent training consisting of two aerobic high-intensity interval exercises and four resistance exercises three afternoons per week. Pre- and post-intervention evaluations assessed selected biochemical and hematological markers as well as body composition.
What was found
The abstract reports significance values without absolute baseline or post-intervention numbers. Compared to both TPG and MG, the combined TMG group had significant increases in reduced glutathione, total bilirubin, and uric acid (all p < 0.005), alongside significant decreases in malondialdehyde, advanced oxidation protein products, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (all p < 0.05). TMG also showed lower white blood cell, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts relative to TPG and MG (all p < 0.05). Compared to TPG alone, TMG demonstrated an increase in lean mass (p = 0.025) and reductions in fat mass (p = 0.0013) and body mass index (p = 0.034).
Why it matters
This study provides preliminary evidence that combining nightly melatonin supplementation with structured concurrent exercise produces greater antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-lowering benefits in multiple sclerosis patients than exercise or melatonin alone.
Limits
The total sample size was small with only 11 to 15 participants per group, limiting statistical power. The abstract did not report absolute values, baseline levels, or effect sizes, nor did it report clinical or functional outcomes such as disability scores, relapse rates, or fatigue.
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