Effects of 8 Weeks Ingestion of a Pre‐Workout Supplement With and Without Synephrine on Cognitive Function, and Perceptions of Readiness to Perform

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Pre‐workout supplements can increase energy availability and/or exercise capacity. We examined the effects of ingesting a pre‐workout supplement with and without synephrine for 8w in 78 healthy, resistance‐trained men (22 ± 3 y). Subjects were randomly assigned to treatments of: (1) a dextrose flavored placebo (PLA); (2) a supplement containing 3.0 g beta alanine, 2 g creatine nitrate, 2 g arginine AKG, 300 mg of N‐acetyl tyrosine, 270 mg caffeine, 15 mg of Mucuna pruriens (PWS) or (3) PWS + 20 mg of synephrine (PWS+S). Primary outcomes: Cognitive function (CF) via a Stroop test. Secondary outcome: Rate of readiness via a visual analogue scale (RTP‐VAS). Measures were assessed at 0, 4 & 8 w. We used GLM statistical analyses covaried for age and respective baseline measures to determine mean (95% CI) change from baseline. We observed a significant increase in CF for the word test at 4 wks for PWS+S (5.64 count; 2.09, 9.19) and PLA (3.9 count; 0.39, 7.45), and 8 wks for PWS (7.55 count; 4.14, 10.97), PWS+S (9.93 count; 6.48, 13.37) and PLA (6.74 count; 3.31, 10.16). Similar patterns in CF for the color test were noted at 4 wks for PWS (5.05 count; 2.72, 7.38), PWS+S (2.56 count; 0.24, 4.88), PLA (2.76 count; 0.43, 5.09) and 8 wks for PWS (8.3 count; 5.76, 10.89), PWS+S (5.07 count; 2.51, 7.63) and PLA (4.89 count; 2.32, 7.4). Decrease ratings of feelings about 'optimistic about future performance' were observed in all groups at 4 & 8 wks. Results indicate that the pre‐workout supplement used herein can improve cognitive function.