Among potent dietary supplements, Momordica charantia, commonly called bitter melon, has various biological effects, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and improves energy metabolism and fatigue recovery. However, it is unknown whether Momordica charantia extract (MCE) induces antifatigue effects during exercise training in high-temperature environments. This study aimed at investigating the efficacy of MCE by examining 10 male tennis players consuming 100 mL MCE/dose (6 times a day over 4 weeks) during the summer training season. Peripheral (ammonia and uric acid) and central (serotonin, dopamine, and prolactin) fatigue parameters were measured before and after MCE consumption; before, during, and after exercise; and the next morning. After consuming MCE supplements, ammonia levels were higher during and after exercise and recovered the next morning, whereas uric acid levels did not change at any time point. Serotonin levels were lower during exercise. Dopamine levels were higher, especially during exercise. Prolactin levels were lower at all time points, especially during and after exercise. Although high-intensity training in a hot environment causes accumulation of fatigue-related metabolites, our results indicate that 4 weeks of MCE intake positively influenced fatigue parameters, suggesting that MCE can efficiently combat fatigue.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) is increasing among the elderly, and new lifestyle-based treatment strategies are warranted. We conducted a randomized, double-blind controlled trial of the effects of aquatic exercise (AE) and/or consumption of burdock root extract (BE) on body composition and serum sex hormones, i.e., testosterone, estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) in elderly women with MS. The percentage of abdominal fat was decreased in the AE group. Waist circumference was increased in the control (CON) group, but not in the other groups. SHBG and estradiol levels were enhanced by both AE and BE and correlated with changes in fat-related body composition. DHEA-S levels only increased in the BE group, which was consistent with changes in lean body mass. Testosterone levels decreased in the CON group, which correlated with changes in lean body mass, skeletal muscle mass, body fat, and waist circumference. Our findings suggested that the combined AE/BE intervention exerted no synergistic and/or additive effects on any sex-related outcome measures in elderly women with MS.

This study investigated the effects of a drink supplement containing Momordica charantia extract from bitter melon on physical fitness and levels of stress hormones during a four-week exercise training program in a hot environment. Ten male tennis players were orally administrated in a four-week (100 ml, 6 times a day), and the pre- and post-supplementation levels of different physical fitness variables and cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormone in plasma were measured at four time-points—before (baseline), during, and after the exercise, and on the next day of the supplementation. The findings showed that the supplementation has significant positive effects on enhancement of physical fitness parameters especially balance (d = 22.10, p = 0.013), flexibility (d = 4.83, p = 0.015), and cardiorespiratory fitness (d = 10.00, p = 0.030). Moreover, the adrenocorticotropic hormone levels were reduced during the exercise, and the cortisol levels showed the decreasing trend during and after the exercise, which was correlated with the change of cardiorespiratory fitness ( r = 0.65, p <0.05). These results indicated the possible adaptogenic effects of Momordica charantia extract intake. Based on the findings, we suggest that Momordica charantia could be used as a source of adaptogenic supplement to alleviate the exercise- and environment-induced stress.