How Melatonin Helps With Fat Loss and Muscle Gain

Inadequate sleep can interfere with optimal body function and overall fitness. If you have trouble sleeping, you might have heard that melatonin could help. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in the body. It can also be taken as a supplement.

According to research, melatonin can not only improve sleep patterns but also has other potential positive effects on the body. It appears that melatonin might increase metabolism, weight loss, and provide protection for muscle tissue.

To better understand how a common sleep aid could help with body fat reduction and enhance muscle, start by learning how melatonin functions in the body.

The Role of Melatonin

Melatonin (sometimes called the "darkness hormone") is secreted by the pineal gland in the brain to help regulate our circadian rhythm. Our circadian rhythms work best when we have regular sleep habits. It’s also quite sensitive to external cues like sunrise and sunset.

When it gets dark outside and is close to bedtime, our brain stimulates the release of melatonin, which makes us feel tired. Melatonin reaches peak levels in the middle of the night while we’re sleeping. As the sun rises, melatonin levels drop, which signals the body to wake up.

Melatonin is the main hormone regulating our circadian rhythm, which is why it's important to address imbalances in the hormone if you have sleep problems.

Melatonin and Weight Loss

Melatonin might increase metabolism and improve our ability to lose weight. Some research shows that melatonin supplementation can aid in fat burning, leading to a reduction in body fat and an increase in lean muscle mass. To try to prove this theory, researchers conducted a study that examined how melatonin affected body composition, lipid levels, and glucose metabolism in postmenopausal women.

Menopause is a time in life when people can find it more difficult to lose body fat and gain muscle. For the small randomized study, 81 postmenopausal women were supplemented with melatonin (1 mg or 3 mg nightly) or a placebo for 1 year.

The participants' body composition was measured using a DXA scan prior to and after the trial period. Blood was drawn to record the baseline and ending values of how melatonin affected leptin and adiponectin, as well as insulin levels. Collectively, these hormones help regulate the body's metabolic processes (including fat burning and glucose regulation).

The participants who had been supplemented with melatonin showed decreased fat mass by 7% compared to the placebo group. They were also able to increase lean mass by 2.9% compared to the placebo participants. Additionally, adiponectin levels increased significantly (by 21%) in the melatonin group.

Melatonin and Lean Body Mass

Melatonin has been shown to increase the lean mass of postmenopausal women. Other research has indicated that the hormone also protects athletes from muscle damage.

A balanced and protective internal environment is essential to building muscle. Oxidative stress occurs because there is an imbalance or compromise of normal body function in response to intense exercise. This state can lead to muscle fatigue and damage along with decreased energy.

Melatonin might reduce exercise-induced oxidative stress and provide a better environment for muscle protection and growth. It might be because melatonin contains antioxidant properties that could potentially reduce exercise-induced oxidative stress.

In 2017, researchers conducted a study to examine the effect of melatonin on chemical reactions and muscle damage in resistance-trained athletes. During the short randomized study, 24 athletes were supplemented with either melatonin (100 mg/day—an amount that is significantly higher than what the body naturally produces each day) or a placebo.

During the trial period, participants were required to increase their exercise intensity. High-intensity exercise can cause the body to release chemicals that are potentially harmful to our muscles and cells. The researchers performed blood tests to check participants' levels of these chemicals as well as enzymes and antioxidants that are beneficial to muscle growth.

The results of the study suggested that:

• Athletes who were supplementing with melatonin showed an increase in total antioxidant capacity for muscle protection compared to the placebo group.
• Melatonin supplementation appeared to prevent the increase of chemical toxins created during oxidative stress compared to the placebo group.
• Participants taking melatonin had reduced levels of harmful chemicals, which indicated they experienced less exercise-induced muscle damage from oxidative stress compared to the placebo group.
• The melatonin group maintained a higher ratio of protective enzymes that help preserve muscle tissue compared to the placebo group.
• Total cholesterol levels were reduced in the melatonin group compared to the placebo.

Additional Benefits of Melatonin

Melatonin is considered a powerful antioxidant and has been shown to improve immune function. Research has demonstrated that the antioxidant properties in melatonin can help protect our body from free radicals (reactive molecules that are potentially harmful to the body) and cellular damage.

Several studies have indicated melatonin could have potential benefits beyond sleep, including:

• Anti-aging
• Brain health
• Cancer prevention
• Cognitive function during the natural aging process
• Decreased inflammation
• Decreased migraine headaches
• Heart health (angina, hypertension, reduced risk of heart attack)
• Improved gastrointestinal health
• Improved immune system
• Relief of depression caused by sleep disturbance
• Removing free radicals 
• Sleep disorder management

Should You Take Melatonin?

The evidence seems to indicate that melatonin can be beneficial in improving our health and fitness. However, that doesn't mean that supplementing with melatonin is right for you. Your body might already be producing adequate levels of melatonin to support optimal fitness.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), melatonin might help some people with sleep problems related to insomnia, jet lag, or shift work. Although the physiologic dose (.1 to .5 mg) of melatonin has been shown to be effective for certain types of insomnia and as a treatment for jet lag, the efficacy and safety of larger doses remain questionable.

It’s unclear whether there is enough evidence to support melatonin as a treatment for other conditions. Although research has discovered some initial positive clinical findings, more research is needed. And, like other supplements, melatonin is largely unregulated by the by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

There is currently no evidence-based, widely agreed-upon recommended dose for melatonin supplements. Most studies begin with a conservative dose (less than 0.3 mg per day)—which is close to what our body produces naturally. Providers might make a broad recommendation to start with the lowest dose needed to achieve the desired result.

There are also possible side effects of taking melatonin, including:

• Disruption of circadian rhythms if too much is taken
• Drowsiness if taken during the day
• Drowsiness upon waking if too much is taken the night before
• Vivid dreams or nightmares

Some people report additional side effects, such as stomach cramps, dizziness, headache, irritability, reduced libido, and reduced sperm count in men.

A Word From Verywell

Melatonin could have the potential to help some people lose fat, gain muscle, and improve their overall health in other ways. While some of the research findings are positive, more studies need to be conducted in humans to determine the health benefits (and possible risks) of melatonin supplementation.

While it appears to be a safe short-term treatment option for sleep problems and possibly other conditions, there is a lack of research on how safe and effective it is to take melatonin supplements for longer periods.

There is also no evidence-based recommended dose. In general, it's advised that you start with a small dose and only take as much as you need to get the effect you want. You should also not take melatonin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have depression, take any medications, or are concerned about the possible side effects of melatonin, talk to your healthcare provider.