A single dose multi-ingredient pre-workout supplement enhances upper body resistance exercise performance

Kyle S Beyer; Max Gadsden; Patrick Patterson-Zuber; Adam M Gonzalez

doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1323408

A single dose multi-ingredient pre-workout supplement enhances upper body resistance exercise performance

Front Nutr. 2024 Jan 23:11:1323408. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1323408. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Kyle S Beyer¹, Max Gadsden¹, Patrick Patterson-Zuber¹, Adam M Gonzalez²

Affiliations

¹ Resistance Exercise, Physiology, and Sport Laboratory, Department of Health and Exercise Physiology, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, United States.
² Department of Allied Health and Kinesiology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, United States.

Abstract

Introduction: Multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements (MIPS) are commonly used by individuals looking to enhance exercise performance and augment adaptations to training. However, the efficacy of commercially available MIPS is largely dependent on the ingredient profile, and new formulations should be investigated to determine their effectiveness. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a commercially available MIPS product on performance during an upper body resistance exercise protocol.

Methods: Twenty resistance-trained participants (10 men, 10 women) volunteered to complete this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study consisting of 3 visits. Visit 1 consisted of body composition, 1-repetition maximum (1RM) testing, and familiarization. Visits 2 and 3 consisted of supplementation with either MIPS or placebo (PLA) 1 h prior to completion of an upper body resistance exercise workout during which power output, repetitions completed, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and perceived recovery were recorded. Assessments of reaction time, isometric mid-thigh pull, and perceived levels of focus, energy, fatigue, and "muscle pump" were also completed before supplementation, 1 h after supplementation, and immediately after exercise.

Results: Statistical analysis revealed significant main effects of trial for reaction time (p < 0.001) and bench press peak power (p = 0.026) indicating better performance during the MIPS trial. Furthermore, total number of repetitions completed significantly increased (p = 0.003) during the MIPS (96.90 ± 21.31 repetitions) trial compared to PLA (89.50 ± 18.37 repetitions). Additionally, overall session RPE was significantly lower (p = 0.002) during the MIPS (7.6 ± 1.2) trial compared to PLA (8.3 ± 0.9).

Discussion: These findings suggest that acute supplementation with this MIPS improved upper body resistance exercise performance while reducing participant RPE. Further research should investigate the efficacy of chronic supplementation with this MIPS as the acute response provided an ergogenic benefit.

Keywords: dietary supplement; muscle endurance; power; reaction time; resistance training.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The study was funded by SHIFTED LLC (Monteagle, TN, United States). The authors declare that this study received funding from SHIFTED LLC. The funder was not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article, or the decision to submit it for publication.