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A meta-analytic approach to quantify the dose–response relationship between melatonin and core temperature

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Abstract

A melatonin-mediated reduction in body temperature could be useful as a “pre-cooling” intervention for athletes, as long as the melatonin dose is optimised so that substantial soporific effects are not induced. However, the melatonin-temperature dose–response relationship is unclear in humans. Individual studies have involved small samples of different sexes and temperature measurement sites. Therefore, we meta-analysed the effects of exogenous melatonin on body core temperature to quantify the dose–response relationship and to explore the influence of moderating variables such as sex and measurement site. Following a literature search, we meta-analysed 30 data-sets involving 193 participants and 405 ingestions of melatonin. The outcome was the mean difference (95 % confidence limits) in core temperature between the melatonin and placebo-controlled conditions in each study, weighted by the reciprocal of each standard error of the difference. The mean (95 % confidence interval) pooled reduction in core temperature was found to be 0.21 °C (0.18–0.24 °C). The dose–response relationship was found to be logarithmic (P < 0.0001). Doses of 0–5 mg reduced temperature by ~0.00–0.22 °C. Any further reductions in temperature were negligible with doses >5 mg. The pooled mean reduction was 0.13 °C (0.05–0.20 °C) for oral temperature vs 0.26 °C (0.20–0.32 °C) for tympanic and 0.22 °C (0.19–0.25 °C) for rectal temperature. In conclusion, our meta-regression revealed a logarithmic dose–response relationship between melatonin and its temperature lowering effects. A 5-mg dose of melatonin lowered core temperature by ~0.2 °C. Higher doses do not substantially increase this hypothermic effect and may induce greater soporific effects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sport and Exercise Research Group, Edge Hill University, St. Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP, UK

    K. Marrin

  2. Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK

    B. Drust & W. Gregson

  3. Health and Social Care Institute, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK

    G. Atkinson

Authors
  1. K. Marrin
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  2. B. Drust
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  3. W. Gregson
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  4. G. Atkinson
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Correspondence to K. Marrin.

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Communicated by George Havenith.

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Marrin, K., Drust, B., Gregson, W. et al. A meta-analytic approach to quantify the dose–response relationship between melatonin and core temperature. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 2323–2329 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2668-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2668-x

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