2010 Studies & Research Blog

f you spend enough time around the world of fitness, nutrition, and supplementation, you’ll realize that absolutely nothing is ever written in stone. Despite the fact that something may be accepted as fact one day, debate may rage over the concept the next. Some of this is due to the fact that the activities and interests of athletes and average consumers vary widely from era to era. This contributes to alterations in the way diets and supplements are recommended and used. In addition, different activities may necessitate new combinations of techniques and supplements, which often produce unexpected results.

Another reason for the fluctuations in the fitness world is the fact that even though many techniques and recommendations are considered to be "established," studies in this field are all relatively new. Intense scientific scrutiny of exercise science, physiology and supplementation are recent phenomena in the grand scheme of human history. So even if a substance or technique has "proven" effects, a newer study may emerge and offer completely different results. That doesn’t discount the earlier research, though; it just indicates how quickly the fitness world can evolve.

Of course, not every new study debunks an old one, and not every recommendation will be refuted at some point. Some new research confirms what is already known, adding an extra degree of legitimacy to supplement claims. And some studies may even find new, unexpected benefits and uses for nutrients and supplements. In some cases, this kind of research can take a supplement that was thought to be merely moderately useful and elevate it into a veritable "super-supplement" in many people’s minds. If the new uses of a supplement aren’t widely known, though, it effectively becomes a secret weapon for those in the know.

Take, for example, melatonin. Up until this year, melatonin was known solely as a superb sleep aid and calming agent. However, two major studies have indicated that isn’t all this supplement can do. The first study indicated that melatonin could be useful in gaining mass or leaning out, as taking melatonin before a cardiovascular training session increased growth hormone release (1). While GH is widely known to aid in anabolism, it also induces muscles to burn fat, making it effective in two fronts in the war against an average physique.

And if that’s not enough to make melatonin a staple in your regimen, consider this. Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant, and a study found that supplementation of melatonin led to a reduction in the aging of brain cells. Usually, the functioning of the mitochondria (energy production units) of cells decreases with age. However, melatonin supplementation helped to reduce the rate of degeneration (2).

As these studies show, melatonin is nothing short of a super supplement. With a diverse array of advantages, there’s really no reason not to be using it.

SOURCES:

1. Meeking, DR, et al. Exercise-induced GH secretion is enhanced by the oral ingestion of melatonin in healthy adult male subjects. European Journal of Endocrinology, 1999; 141(1): 22-26

2. Carretero, Miguel, et al. Long-term melatonin administration protects brain mitochondria from aging. Journal of Pineal Research, 2009; 47(2): 192-200