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. 2018 Dec 24;4(1):4.
doi: 10.3390/geriatrics4010004.

Is a Combination of Melatonin and Amino Acids Useful to Sarcopenic Elderly Patients? A Randomized Trial

Mariangela Rondanelli  1   2 , Gabriella Peroni  3 , Clara Gasparri  4 , Vittoria Infantino  5   6 , Mara Nichetti  7 , Giovanni Cuzzoni  8 , Daniele Spadaccini  9 , Simone Perna  10
Affiliations

Is a Combination of Melatonin and Amino Acids Useful to Sarcopenic Elderly Patients? A Randomized Trial

Mariangela Rondanelli et al. Geriatrics (Basel). .

Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 4-week intervention of melatonin and essential aminoacid supplementation on body composition, protein metabolism, strength and inflammation in 159 elderly sarcopenic patients (42/117, men/women), assigned to four groups: isocaloric placebo (P, n = 44), melatonin (M, 1 mg/daily, n = 42), essential amino acids (eAA 4 g/daily, n = 40) or eAA plus melatonin (eAAM, 4 g eAA and 1 mg melatonin/daily, n = 30). Data from body composition (dual X-ray absortiometry (DXA)), strength (handgrip test) and biochemical parameters for the assessment of protein metabolism (albumin) and inflammation (CRP) were collected at baseline and after the 4-week intervention. Compared with P and M, supplementation with eAA plus M increased total fat-free mass (vs. P: +2190 g; p < 0.01; vs. M: +2107 g; p < 0.05). M alone lowered albumin levels (vs. P: -0.39 g; p < 0.01; vs. eAA: -0.47 g; p < 0.01). This data on albumin was confirmed by within-group analysis (M -0.44g; p < 0.001; eAAM: -0.34 p < 0.05). M and eAA seemed to lower the percentage of gynoid fat (p < 0.05) and android fat (p < 0.01). No significant changes in inflammation or strength were reported. A 4-week intervention with eAA plus M together may be effective in enhancing fat-free-mass compared to M and P but not versus eAA. M alone demonstrates a negative effect on albumin level.

Keywords: antioxidants; inflammation; melatonin; muscle mass; sarcopenia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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