EFFECT OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE ON PLASMA MELATONIN LEVELS IN NORMAL VOLUNTEERS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 66  (22) , 838-841
Abstract
Plasma melatonin, cortisol and prolactin levels were determined in clinically normal adult black male volunteers before, immediately after and 1 h after a period of controlled physical exercise. In all subjects the levels of these 3 hormones showed highly significant increases immediately after exercise and returned to pre-exercise levels 1 h after physical exertion. In subjects who exercised in a room with reduced environmental lighting (54 lux), the plasma melatonin level immediately after exercise was significantly higher than in the group who exercised in a room with a lighting level of 320 lux. Reduction of environmental lighting had no effect on the plasma cortisol and prolactin values immediately after exercise. Significant positive relationships between post-exercise melatonin levels and body mass, age and pulse rate were noted in all volunteers. Since plasma melatonin reached a plateau level after 30 min, controlled exercise (step-climbing), which induces an energy output of 185 W/m2 body surface, conducted in a room with reduced environmental lighting for 30 min, may form the basis for a pineal function test.

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