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Dietary Supplements for Use in Extreme Sports
Published in Datta Sourya, Debasis Bagchi, Extreme and Rare Sports, 2019
Nicolas J.G. Smith, Matthew Butawan, Richard J. Bloomer
In recent years, theacrine, an agent similar in structure to caffeine, has gained popularity in the sports supplement world and is currently being used in multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements. Currently, research suggests that theacrine can improve subjective feelings related to cognition and arousal, including perceived energy, fatigue, concentration, and motivation to exercise.138 However, to date, no study has demonstrated that theacrine has positive effects on any objective measure of cognition. Future research is warranted and may provide additional evidence for or against the use of theacrine as an agent to enhance cognitive performance during exercise.
Effects of a Multi-Ingredient Energy Supplement on Cognitive Performance and Cerebral-Cortical Activation
Published in Journal of Dietary Supplements, 2019
Marcos Daou, Julia Montagner Sassi, Matthew W. Miller, Adam M. Gonzalez
Dietary supplementation with MIES represents a potentially attractive intervention for increasing cognitive performance during a variety of daily tasks that require a high degree of concentration and awareness (e.g., occupational or educational performance). In addition, cognition and mental flexibility have important implications for athletes required to make quick decisions during competition; therefore, enhanced cognition may offer the “edge” that many athletes seek (Huijgen et al., 2015; Voss, Kramer, Basak, Prakash, & Roberts, 2010). Ingredients found in MIES include, but are not limited to, theacrine, L-theanine, ashwagandha, and coffee fruit extract. Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid) is a purine alkaloid found in certain coffee (Coffea) species, fruits (Cupuacu [Theobroma grandiflorum]), and tea (Camellia assamica, var. kucha) that appears to act through both the adenosine and dopamine systems to provide a mild stimulant effect, as well as a calming effect (Feduccia et al., 2012; Taylor et al., 2016). Acute supplementation of theacrine has been shown to improve energy, concentration, and mood while reducing fatigue (Ziegenfuss et al., 2016). Kuhman, Joyner, and Bloomer (2015) also demonstrated that the combination of theacrine and caffeine improved multiple subjective feelings related to energy and mood compared to placebo and caffeine alone; however, cognitive performance was not significantly altered (Kuhman, Joyner, & Bloomer, 2015). The amino acid L-theanine is found almost exclusively in tea and may interact with caffeine to improve attention-switching performance and the ability to ignore distraction (Giesbrecht, Rycroft, Rowson, & De Bruin, 2010; Haskell, Kennedy, Milne, & Wesnes, Scholey, 2008; Owen, Parnell, De Bruin, & Rycroft, 2008). Furthermore, L-theanine acts in the brain to promote an awake, alert, and relaxed physical and mental condition (Bryan, 2008; Juneja, Chu, Okubo, Nagato, & Yokogoshi, 1999). Other ingredients such as ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) may also aid in reducing feelings of anxiety and stress (Pratte, Nanavati, Young, & Morley, 2014), while coffee fruit extract has been shown to increase blood levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a secreted protein involved in development, maintenance, and function of the central nervous system (Reyes-Izquierdo et al., 2013).