IFNH Center for Health and Human Performance, Rutgers University, 61 Dudley Rd, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA.
J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2019 Apr 18;16(1):20. doi: 10.1186/s12970-019-0287-6.
Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric-acid) is a pure alkaloid with a similar structure to caffeine and acts comparably as an adenosine receptor antagonist. Early studies have shown non-habituating effects, including increases in energy and focus in response to Teacrine®, the compound containing pure theacrine. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the effects of Teacrine® and caffeine on cognitive performance and time-to-exhaustion during a simulated soccer game in high-level male and female athletes.
Male and female soccer players (N = 24; M = 20.96 ± 2.05y, M = 55.31 ± 3.39 mL/O/kg, M = 50.97 ± 3.90 mL/O/kg) completed a 90-min simulated treadmill soccer match over four randomized sessions (TeaCrine®, caffeine, TeaCrine® + caffeine, placebo). Cognitive testing at halftime and end-of-game including simple reaction time (SRT), choice RT (CRT), and cognitive-load RT with distraction questions (COGRT/COGRT) was performed, with a run time-to-exhaustion (TTE) at 85% VO following end-of-game cognitive testing. Session times and pre-exercise nutrition were controlled. RM-MANOVAs with univariate follow-ups were conducted and significance was set at P < 0.05.
TTE trended towards significance in TeaCrine® and TeaCrine® + caffeine conditions compared to placebo (P < 0.052). A condition main effect (P < 0.05) occurred with faster CRT in caffeine and TeaCrine® + caffeine compared to placebo. COGRT showed a significant time main effect, with better accuracy at end-of-game compared to halftime (P < 0.05). A time x condition interaction in SRT (P < 0.05) showed placebo improved from halftime to end-of-game.
The 27-38% improvements in TTE reflect increased performance capacity that may have important implications for overtime scenarios. These findings suggest TeaCrine® favorably impacts endurance and the combination with caffeine provides greater benefits on cognitive function than either supplement independently.
Theacrine（1,3,7,9-四甲基尿酸）是一种与咖啡因结构相似的纯生物碱，作为腺苷受体拮抗剂的作用相当。早期研究表明，它没有习惯性，包括在服用含有纯 Theacrine 的 Teacrine®后，能量和注意力增加。本研究旨在确定和比较 Teacrine®和咖啡因对高水平男性和女性运动员模拟足球比赛中认知表现和疲劳时间的影响。
男性和女性足球运动员（N=24；M=20.96±2.05y，M=55.31±3.39mL/O/kg，M=50.97±3.90mL/O/kg）完成了四个随机分组（TeaCrine®，咖啡因，TeaCrine®+咖啡因，安慰剂）的 90 分钟模拟跑步机足球比赛。在中场休息和比赛结束时进行认知测试，包括简单反应时间（SRT）、选择反应时间（CRT）和有分心问题的认知负荷反应时间（COGRT/COGRT），并在比赛结束后进行认知测试后以 85%VO 的速度进行跑步疲劳时间（TTE）。控制了会议时间和运动前营养。进行了 RM-MANOVAs 单变量随访，显著性设置为 P<0.05。
TeaCrine®和 TeaCrine®+咖啡因条件下的 TTE 趋势与安慰剂相比有意义（P<0.052）。在咖啡因和 TeaCrine®+咖啡因条件下，出现了 CRT 的条件主效应（P<0.05），与安慰剂相比更快。COGRT 显示出显著的时间主效应，在比赛结束时的准确性优于中场休息（P<0.05）。SRT 中的时间 x 条件交互作用（P<0.05）表明，安慰剂从中场休息到比赛结束时有所改善。
TTE 提高了 27-38%，反映了运动能力的提高，这可能对加时赛场景有重要意义。这些发现表明，Theacrine®有利于耐力，咖啡因的组合比单独使用任何一种补充剂对认知功能都有更大的益处。
