Effects of Paraxanthine Supplementation on eSport Performancre

NCT07533045 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 21-62A
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will evaluate the effects of daily paraxanthine supplementation on electronic gaming performance, cognitive function, sleep quality, and autonomic responses in healthy adult gamers. Participants will be enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study and assigned to receive either paraxanthine or placebo daily for 6 weeks. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline, Week 3, and Week 6 and will include electronic gaming performance, cognitive function, visual analog scale ratings, sleep quality questionnaires, hemodynamic responses, and heart rate variability. The study is designed to determine whether paraxanthine supplementation improves performance and selected physiological and psychological outcomes during prolonged electronic gaming sessions.

Conditions

Cognitive Function; Gaming Performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (9)

• Gaming Performance Score

  Electronic gaming performance will be assessed using standardized gameplay metrics collected during 60- and 120-minute gaming sessions. Primary variables include knock-outs, falls, damage given, damage taken, hit percentage, and peak damage.

  Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6

• Trail Making Test Part A (Completion Time)

  Cognitive processing speed and visual attention will be assessed using Trail Making Test Part A, including total time to completion.

  Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6

• Trail Making Test Part B (Completion Time)

  Cognitive processing speed and visual attention will be assessed using Trail Making Test Part B, including total time to completion.

  Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6

• Trail Making Test Part A (Errors)

  Cognitive processing speed and visual attention will be assessed using Trail Making Test Part A, including total number of errors.

  Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6

• Trail Making Test Part B (Errors)

  Cognitive processing speed and visual attention will be assessed using Trail Making Test Part B, including total number of errors.

  Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6

• Stroop Color and Word Test Performance

  Cognitive performance will be assessed using the Stroop Color and Word Test, including response time and accuracy.

  Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6

• Profile of Mood States (POMS) Total Mood Disturbance Score

  Mood state will be assessed using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire, with calculation of total mood disturbance score.

  Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6

• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Score

  Sleep quality will be assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global score.

  Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6

• Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

  Autonomic function will be assessed using heart rate variability metrics including RMSSD, high-frequency power, low-frequency power, and LF:HF ratio.

  Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6

Study Arms (2)

Placebo Comparator

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants assigned to this group will ingest a placebo supplement daily for 6 weeks. All participants will complete identical testing procedures at baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6.

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Paraxanthine

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this group will ingest paraxanthine daily for 6 weeks. All participants will complete identical testing procedures at baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6.

Dietary Supplement: Paraxanthine

Interventions

Placebo DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will ingest a placebo supplement daily for 6 weeks. The supplement will be consumed with approximately 8 ounces of water at a consistent time each day.

Placebo Comparator

Paraxanthine DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will ingest paraxanthine daily for 6 weeks. The supplement will be consumed with approximately 8 ounces of water at a consistent time each day.

Paraxanthine

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• years of age
• Self-reported to be beginners to gaming or have no experience at all
• Body Mass Index between 18.5 - 29.9 kg/m2

You may not qualify if:

• Outside of age range
• Is considered a gamer
• Noncompliance with protocol
• Women who are currently pregnant or are actively planning to become pregnant

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lindenwood University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Lindenwood University Exercise and Performance Nutrition Laboratory

Saint Charles, Missouri, 63301, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

1,7-dimethylxanthine

Study Officials

• Chad M Kerksick, PhD

  Lindenwood University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: This study will employ a double-blind design in which participants, investigators, and study personnel involved in data collection and outcome assessment are blinded to group assignment. Study supplements will be provided in identical capsules and packaging to ensure blinding. Group assignments will be coded and maintained by an independent party not involved in study procedures or data analysis and will remain concealed until completion of data collection and primary analyses.
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Participants will be randomized to one of two parallel groups to receive either paraxanthine or placebo daily for 6 weeks. All participants will complete identical testing procedures at baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 9, 2026
• First Posted: April 16, 2026
• Study Start: June 15, 2021
• Primary Completion: April 14, 2025
• Study Completion: April 14, 2025
• Last Updated: April 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)