Almendros-Ruiz Antonio, Conde-Pipó Javier, Aranda-Martínez Paula, Olivares-Jabalera Jesús, Acuña-Castroviejo Darío, Requena Bernardo, Fernández-Martínez José, Mariscal-Arcas Miguel
Health Science and Nutrition Research (HSNR-CTS1118), Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.
FSI Lab, Football Science Institute, 18016 Granada, Spain.
Biomolecules. 2025 May 11;15(5):700. doi: 10.3390/biom15050700.
Modern elite football is becoming increasingly physically demanding, often requiring training and matches to be played at night. This schedule may disrupt circadian rhythms and melatonin secretion, thereby impairing sleep and recovery. This study investigated the effects of training time on melatonin secretion, circadian phase markers, and sleep parameters in elite youth soccer players. Forty male players (aged 16-18 years) from an elite Spanish youth football club were studied. Two groups followed the same training program but trained either in the morning (MT) or in the evening (ET). Salivary melatonin was measured at six time points to determine the mean levels, dim light melatonin onset (DLMO), amplitude, and acrophase. Chronotype, sleep quality (PSQI), and daytime sleepiness (ESS) were assessed using validated questionnaires. Dietary intake and anthropometric variables were also recorded. The MT group had higher mean melatonin levels ( = 0.026) and earlier DLMO ( = 0.023) compared to the ET group. Sleep quality was significantly better in the MT group ( < 0.001), despite shorter sleep duration ( = 0.014). No major differences in diet or anthropometry were observed. The chronotype had a secondary effect on the circadian markers. Evening training is associated with alterations in melatonin rhythms and reduced sleep quality, possibly due to light-induced chronodisruption. These findings highlight the importance of training timing as a modifiable factor in the chronobiology and recovery of athletes. Incorporating circadian principles into training schedules may optimize resting time and thus performance and long-term health in athletes.
现代精英足球对体能的要求越来越高，比赛和训练常常安排在夜间进行。这样的日程安排可能会扰乱昼夜节律和褪黑素分泌，进而影响睡眠和恢复。本研究调查了训练时间对精英青年足球运动员褪黑素分泌、昼夜节律标志物和睡眠参数的影响。研究对象为来自一家西班牙精英青年足球俱乐部的40名男性球员（年龄在16 - 18岁之间）。两组球员遵循相同的训练计划，但分别在上午（MT组）或晚上（ET组）进行训练。在六个时间点测量唾液褪黑素，以确定平均水平、暗光褪黑素起始时间（DLMO）、振幅和相位。使用经过验证的问卷评估昼夜类型、睡眠质量（PSQI）和白天嗜睡程度（ESS）。同时记录饮食摄入和人体测量变量。与ET组相比，MT组的平均褪黑素水平更高（ = 0.026），DLMO更早（ = 0.023）。尽管MT组的睡眠时间较短（ = 0.014），但其睡眠质量明显更好（ < 0.001）。在饮食或人体测量方面未观察到重大差异。昼夜类型对昼夜节律标志物有次要影响。晚间训练与褪黑素节律改变和睡眠质量下降有关，可能是由于光照引起的生物钟紊乱。这些发现凸显了训练时间作为运动员生物钟学和恢复过程中一个可调节因素的重要性。将昼夜节律原则纳入训练日程可能会优化运动员的休息时间，从而提高其表现和长期健康水平。
