Effects of Multi-ingredient Preworkout Supplements on Physical Performance, Cognitive Performance, Mood State, and Hormone Concentrations in Recreationally Active Men and Women

Abstract

Beckner, ME, Pihoker, AA, Darnell, ME, Beals, K, Lovalekar, M, Proessl, F, Flanagan, SD, Arciero, PJ, Nindl, BC, and Martin, BJ. Effects of multi-ingredient preworkout supplements on physical performance, cognitive performance, mood state, and hormone concentrations in recreationally active men and women. J Strength Cond Res 36(9): 2493-2501, 2022-Performance enhancement supplement research has primarily focused on the effectiveness of individual ingredients, rather than the combination. This study investigated the acute effects of 2 multi-ingredient preworkout supplements (MIPS), with beta-alanine and caffeine (BAC) and without (NBAC), compared with placebo (PLA) on anaerobic performance, endurance capacity, mood state, cognitive function, vascular function, and anabolic hormones. Thirty exercise-trained individuals (24.4 ± 4.9 years, 15 men and 15 women) completed a fatiguing exercise protocol on 3 separate occasions, 30 minutes after ingestion of BAC, NBAC, or PLA. Outcomes were analyzed using one-way or two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance, as appropriate (alpha = 0.05). Anaerobic power was greater when supplementing with NBAC (10.7 ± 1.2 W·kg -1 ) and BAC (10.8 ± 1.4 W·kg -1 ) compared with PLA (10.4 ± 1.2 W·kg -1 ) ( p = 0.014 and p = 0.022, respectively). BAC improved V̇ o2 peak time to exhaustion ( p = 0.006), accompanied by an increase in blood lactate accumulation ( p < 0.001), compared with PLA. Both NBAC and BAC demonstrated improved brachial artery diameter after workout ( p = 0.041 and p = 0.005, respectively), but PLA did not. L-arginine concentrations increased from baseline to postsupplement consumption of BAC ( p = 0.017). Reaction time significantly decreased after exercise for all supplements. There was no effect of supplement on mood states. Exercise-trained individuals looking to achieve modest improvements in power and endurance may benefit from consuming MIPS before exercise.