Ergogenic aid

BACKGROUND: Taurine (TAU) and caffeine (CAF), as common ergogenic aids, are known to affect exercise performance; however, the effects of their combined supplementation, particularly in high temperature and humidity environments, have not been studied. HYPOTHESIS: The combination of TAU and CAF will have a greater effect on endurance cycle performance and improve changes in physiological indicators during exercise compared with TAU or CAF supplementation alone and placebo...

Emoxypine (ethylmethylhydroxypyridine) is a synthetic derivative of vitamin B6 . Emoxypine succinate is a registered drug in Russia and Ukraine under various trade names including Mexidol, Mexicor, and Armadin Long. Mexidol demonstrates antihypoxic and anti-ischemic effects and also modulates metabolism. The use of Mexidol by Russian athletes has been confirmed in the past. Current use by athletes is unknown as this drug is not monitored or included in drug testing protocol. Metabotropic and antihypoxic effects of Mexidol were compared to the effects of meldonium or trimetazidine, both of which are included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List in category S4...

Soccer is a sport practiced all over the world and whose practice begins in young athletes. Currently, the consumption of nutritional supplements is essential to achieve the maximum performance of players. The aim of this study was to describe the consumption of sports supplements (CSS) by elite soccer players and its association with their competitive level, playing position, and sex. A comparative descriptive and non-experimental study was performed during the 2021-2022 competitive season. A total of 70 elite players completed one online questionnaire about their CSS...

BACKGROUND: A new commercially available sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplement claims to limit gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort and increase extracellular buffering capacity. To date, no available data exists to substantiate such claims. Therefore, the aim of this study was to measure blood acid-base balance and GI discomfort responses following the ingestion of SB using the novel "Bicarb System" (M-SB). Twelve well-trained male cyclists completed this randomised crossover designed study...

We investigated the potential for publication bias in the field of sports science regarding studies on ergogenic aids and their effects on exercise performance. We found evidence to suggest that journals tend to prioritize studies with positive results (76%) while neglecting those with negative outcomes (2.7%). Worryingly, this could lead to a discrepancy between reported conclusions and actual study outcomes. We also identified inconsistencies between reported outcomes and actual performance variable outcomes...

We investigated whether the application of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) immediately after a standardized warm-up (WU + PBMT) or traditional PBMT (no pre-warming) would influence performance in intermittent testing and intensity variables. In a counterbalanced randomized crossover design, twelve female futsal players (mean age: 23.9 ± 3.8 years) attended four sessions. Each session involved either a standardized warm-up or maintaining seated rest for five minutes. Subsequently, PBMT or placebo (with the PBMT device turned off) was applied, followed by the YoYo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 test (YYIR1) during which we assessed heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and blood lactate levels...

UNLABELLED: This study aimed to analyze the placebo effect associated with caffeine ingestion on running performance. METHODS: Thirteen recreationally trained males in long-distance running (age: 38.5 ± 11.9 years, 11.0 ± 8.8 years of running experience) performed a 6 min time trial test in each experimental condition (caffeine-informed/placebo ingested (placebo) and non-ingested (control)) separated by 7 days. The total distance covered was measured, and partial times of each 400 m were used to analyze the pacing strategy...

Despite the abundance of research investigating the efficacy of caffeine supplementation on exercise performance, the physiological and biochemical responses to caffeine supplementation during intermittent activities are less evident. This study investigated the acute effects of caffeine supplementation on measures of exercise performance, ratings of perceived exertion, and biomarkers of oxidative stress induced by an acute bout of sprint interval training. In a randomized crossover design, 12 healthy males (age: 26 ± 4 years, height: 177...

Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) is a physiological phenomenon that refers to an acute excitation of the neuromuscular system following intense exercise that ends in enhanced physical performance in a subsequent bout of exercise. The scientific literature has primarily examined the effectiveness of PAPE alone or combined with caffeine (CAF) intake in all-out tests lasting ≤10 s, as the effect of PAPE is transitory. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of a protocol to induce PAPE alone or in combination with caffeine intake on the 30 s Wingate Anaerobic Test in highly trained boxers...

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this research was to analyse relationships between personality traits and the use of selected dietary supplements among Polish athletes training in team sports. This subject matter has not been explored in prior research. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This research was carried out among a group of 213 athletes (men) in the 18-36 age range, with the implementation of a proprietary validated questionnaire for the use of dietary supplements and the NEO-PI-R inventory (Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Personality Inventory-Revised)...

BACKGROUND: this observational and cross-sectional study aimed to describe training, pharmacological ergogenic aids, dehydration, and nutrition strategies during a peak week in competitive bodybuilders and monitor changes that occurred across this period. METHODS: Ten amateur bodybuilders were followed during a peak week phase and one day post-contest. Training, diet, dehydration protocol, anabolic steroid use, and nonsteroidal agents were recorded, prescribed, and supervised by the same coach in charge...

Kuru, D, Aktitiz, S, Atakan, MM, Köse, MG, Turnagöl, HH, and Koşar, ŞN. Effect of pre-exercise sodium citrate ingestion on repeated sprint performance in soccer players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2023-This study aimed to test the hypothesis that sodium citrate (CIT) administered 180 minutes before exercise improves repeated sprint performance in athletes within a field-based setting. Twenty male soccer players (mean ± SD: age = 20.9 ± 2.3 years; body mass [BM] = 73...

Nitrate (NO3-) has properties that can improve muscle function, leading to improvements in metabolic cost of exercise as well as enhance force production. Gymnastics is a whole-body sport, involving events that demand a high level of strength and fatigue resistance. However, the effect of NO3- supplementation on both upper- and lower-body function in gymnasts is unknown. This study examined the effect of acute beetroot juice (BRJ) supplementation on isokinetic strength and endurance of the upper- and lower-body in highly trained international-level male gymnasts...

Caffeine is an ergogenic substance that is consumed globally in many forms. The use of buccally absorbable formulations instead of gastrointestinal uptake has become increasingly popular over the years, especially when accelerated absorption with minimal gastrointestinal stress is desired. This study investigated the impact of five different formulations and administration routes of caffeine on the whole blood concentrations of caffeine, paraxanthine, and theobromine: caffeinated capsules, tablets, shots, pouches, and chewing gums...

Pre-exercise mangiferin-quercetin may enhance athletic performance. This study investigated the effect of mangiferin-quercetin supplementation on high-level male basketball players during a basketball exercise simulation test (BEST) comprising 24 circuits of 30 s activities with various movement distances. The participants were divided into two groups (EXP = 19 and CON = 19) and given a placebo one hour before the BEST (PRE-condition). The following week, the EXP group received mangiferin-quercetin (84 mg/140 mg), while the CON group received a placebo (POST-condition) before the BEST in a double-blind, cross-over design...

The widespread use of sports supplements (SS) to enhance athletic performance extends to cyclists, although little research has been conducted on this subject within this sport. This descriptive and cross-sectional study involved 1688 federated road cyclists, aiming to analyse the pattern of SS consumption concerning the degree of scientific evidence and different categories. This study categorised SS based on the groups and subgroups established by the Australian Sport Institute (AIS, 2023) based on the level of evidence...

BACKGROUND: caffeine is an ergogenic aid that still needs to be investigated in women's sports performance. METHODS: Eight semi-professional women's volleyball players (height = 1.63 ± 0.08 m; weight = 66.67 ± 4.74 kg) voluntarily participated in this study. A randomized crossover design was implemented where players underwent caffeine and placebo conditions. In the caffeine condition, participants consumed 5 mg/kg of caffeine based on their body weight before acute training...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the acute effect of caffeine or quercetin ingestion on motor unit firing patterns and muscle contractile properties before and after resistance exercise. High-density surface electromyography (HDs-EMG) during submaximal contractions and electrically elicited torque in knee extensor muscles were measured before (PRE) and 60 min after (POST1) ingestion of caffeine, quercetin glycosides, or placebo, and after resistance exercise (POST2) in ten young males. The Convolution Kernel Compensation technique was used to identify individual motor units of the vastus lateralis muscle for the recorded HDs-EMG...

BACKGROUND: The ergogenic effects of caffeine intake on exercise performance are well-established, even if differences exist among individuals in response to caffeine intake. The genetic variation of a specific gene, CYP1A2 (rs762551), may be one reason for this difference. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the influence of CYP1A2 gene types on athletes' exercise performance after caffeine intake. METHODS: A literature search through 4 databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)) was conducted until March 2023...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of protein and carbohydrate supplementation, with and without creatine, on occupational performance in firefighters. METHODS: Using a randomized, double-blind approach, thirty male firefighters (age: 34.4 ± 8.4 yrs., height: 1.82 ± 0.07 m; weight: 88.6 ± 12.5 kg; BF%: 17.2 ± 5.8%) were randomized to receive either (A.) 25 g of whey protein isolate + 25 g of carbohydrate powder (ProCarb group); or (B...