Effects of Supplementation on Performance in Football Players

NCT07580248 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: MIZERA-2025-FOOTBALL-RCT
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 81
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study investigated the effects of short-term supplementation with taurine, caffeine, and phosphatidylserine on physical and cognitive performance in professional male football players. Eighty-one players were randomly assigned to one of three groups: placebo, taurine plus caffeine, or taurine plus caffeine combined with phosphatidylserine. Supplementation was administered for 10 days, with a final dose taken 60 minutes before a standardized 105-minute football training session. Primary and secondary outcomes included sprint performance, reaction time, GPS-derived locomotor variables, and technical and tactical performance indicators. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether combined multi-ingredient supplementation could improve performance and attenuate fatigue-related declines under match-like conditions.

Conditions

Physical Performance; Cognitive Performance

Keywords

taurine; caffeine; phosphatidylserine; football; reaction time; sprint performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• 30 m sprint time (seconds)

  Time to complete a 30 meter sprint under standardized conditions, expressed in seconds; calculated as the mean of valid trials.

  Day 10 (final training session following supplementation)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Reaction time (visual and auditory)

  Day 10 (post-supplementation)

• Total distance (meters)

  Day 10 (during standardized training session)

• Running speed (m/s)

  Day 10 (during standardized training session)

• Sprint count (number)

  Day 10 (during standardized training session)

• High-speed running distance (meters)

  Day 10 (during standardized training session)

Other Outcomes (6)

• Sprint time decline (%)

  Day 10 (during final training session; comparison between first and second halves)

• Running speed decline (%)

  Day 10 (during final training session; comparison between first and second halves)

• Passing accuracy (%)

  Day 10 (during standardized training session)

Study Arms (3)

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants received a placebo (lactose) daily for 10 days.

Other: Placebo

Taurine + Caffeine

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received taurine (1500 mg) and caffeine (200 mg) daily for 10 days.

Dietary Supplement: Taurine and Caffeine

Taurine + Caffeine + PS

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received taurine (1500 mg), caffeine (150 mg), and phosphatidylserine (300 mg) daily for 10 days.

Dietary Supplement: Taurine, Caffeine, and Phosphatidylserine

Interventions

Placebo OTHER

Placebo (lactose) administered daily for 10 days

Placebo

Taurine and Caffeine DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Taurine 1500 mg and caffeine 200 mg administered daily for 10 days

Taurine + Caffeine

Taurine, Caffeine, and Phosphatidylserine DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Taurine 1500 mg, caffeine 150 mg, and phosphatidylserine 300 mg administered daily for 10 days

Taurine + Caffeine + PS

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years - 32 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male professional football (soccer) players
• Age 19-32 years
• Currently participating in regular team training (4-5 sessions per week)
• Medically cleared for participation in high-intensity physical activity
• Provided written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Current injury or musculoskeletal condition affecting performance
• Chronic disease or medical condition
• Use of medications that may affect physical or cognitive performance
• Regular use of dietary supplements or caffeine prior to the study period
• Smoking or alcohol consumption
• Failure to comply with study procedures

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Krzysztof Mizera: lead

Study Sites (1)

ŁKS Łódź

Lodz, Łódżkie, 94-020, Poland

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Taurine; Caffeine; Phosphatidylserines

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Alkanesulfonic Acids; Alkanes; Hydrocarbons, Acyclic; Hydrocarbons; Organic Chemicals; Sulfonic Acids; Sulfur Acids; Sulfur Compounds; Xanthines; Alkaloids; Heterocyclic Compounds; Purinones; Purines; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring; Glycerophospholipids; Phosphatidic Acids; Glycerophosphates; Phospholipids; Membrane Lipids; Lipids

Study Officials

• Krzysztof Maciej MIZERA, PhD

  1. Vizja University in Warsaw, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Health Sciences, 01-143 Warsaw, Poland

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER
• Masking Details: Participants were blinded to group allocation. Supplements and placebo were identical in appearance. Investigators were aware of group assignments.
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Participants were randomly assigned to one of three parallel groups: placebo, taurine plus caffeine, or taurine plus caffeine combined with phosphatidylserine. Each participant received only one intervention throughout the study.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 28, 2026
• First Posted: May 12, 2026
• Study Start: March 25, 2025
• Primary Completion: April 5, 2025
• Study Completion: April 5, 2025
• Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PL (1)