Condition
Anaerobic Exercise Performance
Anaerobic exercise performance is how well you handle all-out efforts like sprints and heavy lifts, which run on oxygen-free energy systems that build up hydrogen ions and lactate, the source of the burn. Creatine and caffeine have the strongest support: jump height went up with creatine, and caffeine improved exercise measures across pooled reviews. Beta-alanine also improved anaerobic capacity, but that evidence is limited, drawn from small trials.
Sources: PMID 30926628; PMID 39032921
- Supplements studied
- 24
- Graded outcomes
- 22
- Trials
- 24
- People studied
- 9,430
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobic Exercise Metrics Moderate Improvement | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 4 studies | 799 people | ||
Studies that measured aerobic exercise metrics | ||||||
| Anaerobic Capacity | Improves (the measure goes up) | 5 studies | 298 people | |||
Studies that measured anaerobic capacity
| ||||||
| Jump Height | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 145 people | |||
Studies that measured jump height | ||||||
| Muscular Endurance | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 627 people | |||
Studies that measured muscular endurance | ||||||
| Agility | Improves (the measure goes up) | 206 people | ||||
| Exercise Capacity | Improves (the measure goes up) | 352 people | ||||
| Sprint Performance Metrics | Improves (the measure goes up) | 396 people | ||||
| Strength | Improves (the measure goes up) | 904 people | ||||
Taurine
- Aerobic Exercise Metrics: improves
- Anaerobic Capacity: improves
- Muscular Endurance: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobic Exercise Metrics Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | 308 people | ||
Studies that measured aerobic exercise metrics | ||||||
| Anaerobic Capacity | Improves (the measure goes up) | 308 people | ||||
| Muscular Endurance | Improves (the measure goes up) | 308 people | ||||
| Power Output | Improves (the measure goes up) | 308 people | ||||
Creatine
- Jump Height: improves
- Strength: improves
- Peak power output (PPO): improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jump Height Small Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1,937 people | |||
| Strength | Improves (the measure goes up) | 5 studies | 1,937 people | |||
Studies that measured strength
| ||||||
| Peak power output (PPO) | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1,937 people | ||||
Sodium Bicarbonate
- Anaerobic Capacity: improves
- Serum Bicarbonate: improves
- Power Output: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaerobic Capacity Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 11 studies | 8 people | ||
| Serum Bicarbonate | Improves (the measure goes up) | 26 studies | 215 people | |||
| Power Output | Improves (the measure goes up) | 6 studies | 93 people | |||
| Blood Acidity | Changes; see studies | 4 studies | 215 people | |||
Studies that measured blood acidity | ||||||
| Blood Lactate (Exercise) | Changes; see studies | 2 studies | 215 people | |||
Studies that measured blood lactate (exercise) | ||||||
| Oxygen Uptake | Improves (the measure goes up) | 215 people | ||||
| Peak power output (PPO) | Improves (the measure goes up) | 93 people | ||||
Beta-Alanine
- Anaerobic Capacity: improves
- Muscle Mass: improves
- Oxygen Uptake: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaerobic Capacity Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 2 studies | 19 people | ||
| Muscle Mass | Improves (the measure goes up) | 3 studies | 46 people | |||
Studies that measured muscle mass
| ||||||
| Oxygen Uptake | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 46 people | |||
Eleuthero
- Anaerobic Capacity: improves
- Fatigue Resistance: improves
- Oxygen Uptake: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaerobic Capacity Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | 6 people | ||
Studies that measured anaerobic capacity | ||||||
| Fatigue Resistance | Improves (the measure goes down) | 6 people | ||||
| Oxygen Uptake | Improves (the measure goes up) | 6 people | ||||
Citric Acid
- Anaerobic Exercise Performance: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaerobic Exercise Performance Sodium citrate has been studied in small human trials as an extracellular buffering agent for high-intensity anaerobic exercise, similar to sodium bicarbonate. Results are mixed, with some studies showing modest improvements in repeated sprint performance and time to exhaustion while others find no benefit. The mechanism is extracellular pH buffering, not Krebs cycle enhancement. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | 200 people | ||
Studies that measured anaerobic exercise performance | ||||||
Tongkat Ali
- Power Output: improves
- Strength: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Output Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 40 people | |||
| Strength | Improves (the measure goes up) | 2 studies | 40 people | |||
Studies that measured strength
| ||||||
L-Tyrosine
- Adrenaline
- Heart Rate: improves
- Blood glucose: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrenaline Mixed effect | 14 people | |||||
| Heart Rate | Improves (the measure goes down) | 5 studies | 14 people | |||
| Blood glucose | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 34 people | |||
Studies that measured blood glucose | ||||||
| Dopamine | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 14 people | |||
Studies that measured dopamine | ||||||
| Adrenocorticotropic Hormone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 20 people | ||||
| Aerobic Exercise Metrics | Improves (the measure goes up) | 20 people | ||||
| Blood Lactate (Exercise) | Changes; see studies | 34 people | ||||
| Cortisol | Improves (the measure goes down) | 20 people | ||||
| Fatigue Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 20 people | ||||
| Muscular Endurance | Improves (the measure goes up) | 20 people | ||||
| Noradrenaline | Improves (the measure goes up) | 14 people | ||||
| Power Output | Improves (the measure goes up) | 14 people | ||||
| Strength | Improves (the measure goes up) | 20 people | ||||
Fenugreek
- Body Fat: improves
- Estrogen: changes; see studies
- DHT: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Fat Small Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 30 people | |||
| Estrogen | Changes; see studies | 2 studies | 30 people | |||
| DHT | Improves (the measure goes up) | 30 people | ||||
| Muscle Mass | Improves (the measure goes up) | 30 people | ||||
| Testosterone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 30 people | ||||
Arginine
- Anaerobic Capacity: improves
- Nitric Oxide: improves
- Oxygen Cost of Exercise: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaerobic Capacity Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 9 people | |||
| Nitric Oxide | Improves (the measure goes up) | 4 studies | 9 people | |||
Studies that measured nitric oxide
| ||||||
| Oxygen Cost of Exercise | Improves (the measure goes up) | 9 people | ||||
Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng)
- Body Fat: improves
- Oxygen Uptake: improves
- Exercise Recovery: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Fat Small Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 41 people | |||
| Oxygen Uptake | Improves (the measure goes up) | 2 studies | 41 people | |||
| Exercise Recovery | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 24 people | |||
| Fatigue Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 24 people | ||||
| Heart Rate | Improves (the measure goes down) | 41 people | ||||
| Peak power output (PPO) | Improves (the measure goes up) | 24 people | ||||
| Weight | Improves (the measure goes down) | 41 people |
L-Carnitine
- Aerobic Exercise Metrics
- Power Output: improves
- Muscle Carnitine Content: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobic Exercise Metrics No effect | NoneNo effect | 4 studies | 32 people | |||
| Power Output | Improves (the measure goes up) | 5 studies | 32 people | |||
| Muscle Carnitine Content | Improves (the measure goes up) | 32 people |
Quercetin
- Anaerobic Capacity
- Rating of Perceived Exertion: improves
- Interleukin 6: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaerobic Capacity No effect | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 15 people | |||
| Rating of Perceived Exertion | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 15 people | |||
| Interleukin 6 | Improves (the measure goes down) | 15 people | ||||
| Uric Acid | Improves (the measure goes down) | 15 people |
Fish Oil
- Anaerobic Capacity
- Sprint Performance Metrics: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaerobic Capacity No effect | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 26 people | |||
| Sprint Performance Metrics | Improves (the measure goes up) | 26 people |
Black Ginger
- Aerobic Exercise Metrics
- Power Output: improves
- Rating of Perceived Exertion: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobic Exercise Metrics No effect | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 17 people | |||
| Power Output | Improves (the measure goes up) | 17 people | ||||
| Rating of Perceived Exertion | Improves (the measure goes up) | 17 people |
Citrulline
- Aerobic Exercise Metrics
- Power Output: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobic Exercise Metrics No effect | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 32 people | |||
| Power Output | Improves (the measure goes up) | 3 studies | 32 people |
Red Spinach Extract
- Anaerobic Exercise Performance: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaerobic Exercise Performance In a crossover study of NCAA female soccer athletes (n=11), acute red spinach extract did not improve peak or mean power during repeated Wingate tests, but significantly reduced fatigue index. A 7-day trial in resistance-trained males (n=10) found no significant improvement in bench press repetitions, peak power, or mean power with RSE supplementation. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | 21 people |
Choline
- Anaerobic Capacity
- Rating of Perceived Exertion: improves
- Fatigue Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaerobic Capacity No effect | NoneNo effect | 14 people | ||||
| Rating of Perceived Exertion | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 14 people | |||
| Fatigue Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 14 people |
Bitter orange
- Headaches
- Sprint Performance Metrics: improves
- Insomnia Signs and Symptoms: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headaches No effect | NoneNo effect | 13 people | ||||
| Sprint Performance Metrics | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 13 people | |||
| Insomnia Signs and Symptoms | Changes; see studies | 13 people |
D-Ribose
- Ammonia
- Power Output: improves
- ATP Regeneration: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia No effect | NoneNo effect | 51 people | ||||
| Power Output | Improves (the measure goes up) | 3 studies | 28 people | |||
| ATP Regeneration | Improves (the measure goes up) | 2 studies | 20 people | |||
| Peak power output (PPO) | Improves (the measure goes up) | 2 studies | 39 people | |||
| Blood glucose | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 31 people | |||
| Blood Lactate (Exercise) | Changes; see studies | 51 people | ||||
| Maximal isometric voluntary contraction | Improves (the measure goes up) | 20 people | ||||
| Uric Acid | Improves (the measure goes down) | 19 people |
Resveratrol
- Fat Oxidation: improves
- Anaerobic Capacity: worsens
- Glycogen: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fat Oxidation | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 16 people | |||
| Anaerobic Capacity Small Detriment | Worsens (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 16 people | |||
| Glycogen | Improves (the measure goes up) | 16 people | ||||
| Oxygen Uptake | Improves (the measure goes up) | 16 people | ||||
| Power Output | Improves (the measure goes up) | 16 people |
Pyruvate
- Power Output: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Output | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 42 people |
Key findings
- Aerobic Exercise MetricsImproves (the measure goes up)
- Exercise CapacityImproves (the measure goes up)
- Jump HeightImproves (the measure goes up)
The Anaerobic Exercise Performance protocol
2 primary supplements · 2 supporting supplements
- Creatine Monohydrate5 g daily (or 20 g/day for 5–7 days loading)
- Caffeine3–6 mg/kg body weight, 30–60 min pre-exercise
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Studies cited
100 studies from PubMed
- Does creatine supplementation improve glycemic control and insulin resistance in healthy and diabetic patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Resveratrol: A Potential Therapeutic Natural Polyphenol for Neurodegenerative Diseases Associated with Mitochondrial Dysfunction
- Resveratrol: An Overview of Clinical Trials in Human Cancer Prevention and Treatment
- Red Spinach Extract Supplementation Improves Cycle Time Trial Performance in Recreationally Active Men and Women
- Impact of Red Spinach Extract Supplementation on Bench Press Performance, Muscle Oxygenation, and Cognitive Function in Resistance-Trained Males
- Resveratrol and Its Analogs: Potent Agents to Reverse Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Tumors
- Resveratrol and Sirtuins: A Story of Living Long Healthy Life
- Therapeutic Potential of Resveratrol in Alzheimer's Disease: A Review of the Evidence
- Resveratrol as a Chemopreventive Agent: A Promising Molecule for Fighting Cancer
- Resveratrol and Health - A Comprehensive Review of Human Clinical Trials
- Resveratrol: A Double-Edged Sword in Health Benefits
- Resveratrol and Caloric Restriction: The Role of Sirtuins in Aging and Age-Related Diseases
- The Multitarget Activity of Natural Bioactive Compounds in Parkinson's Disease: Role of Resveratrol
- Resveratrol: A New Treatment for Diseases Associated with Oxidative Stress
- Resveratrol-Based Compounds and Neurodegeneration: Recent Insight in Multitarget Neuroprotection
- An Overview of the Anticancer Properties of Resveratrol
- Eurycoma longifolia Jack in Managing Idiopathic Male Infertility
- Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia): A Systematic Review of Hormonal Effects in Humans
- Safety and Efficacy of Eurycoma longifolia in Men: A Clinical Review
- Beta-Alanine and High-Intensity Exercise Capacity: A Systematic Review
- Beta-Alanine Supplementation in Older Adults: A Systematic Review
- Beta-Alanine Effects on Tactical Performance: A Review
- Quercetin and Exercise Performance: A Meta-Analysis
- Quercetin and Blood Pressure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials
- Quercetin and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections: A Review
- Quercetin and Metabolic Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review
- An Update on Resveratrol and Diabetes: From Metabolism to Clinical Trial Results
- Ergogenic and Androgenic Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack: A Comprehensive Review
- Tongkat Ali for Athletic Performance and Body Composition: A Review
- Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Eurycoma longifolia: A Review
- Toxicological Assessment of Eurycoma longifolia Extract: Safety Profile
- Eurycoma longifolia in Hypogonadal Males: A Systematic Review
- International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Beta-Alanine
- Effects of Beta-Alanine on Carnosine Content and Exercise Performance
- Safety and Efficacy of Beta-Alanine Supplementation: A Review
- Quercetin and Cardiovascular Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Quercetin and Allergic Diseases: A Systematic Review
- Bioavailability and Safety of Quercetin: A Review
- Quercetin and Lipid Profile: A Meta-Analysis
- Red Spinach Extract Increases Ventilatory Threshold during Graded Exercise Testing
- Review: Tongkat Ali as a Potential Herbal Supplement for Physical and Sexual Well-Being
- Eurycoma longifolia and Male Sexual Health: Evidence from Clinical Trials
- Eurycoma longifolia Jack and Stress-Related Male Infertility: Evidence and Mechanisms
- Beta-Alanine Supplementation and Exercise Performance: A Meta-Analysis
- Paresthesia from Beta-Alanine: Mechanisms and Mitigation
- Quercetin and Inflammation: A Systematic Review
- Quercetin and Antioxidant Activity: Mechanisms and Clinical Evidence
- Differential vascular reactivity responses acutely following ingestion of a nitrate rich red spinach extract
- Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali): A Review of Evidence for Its Testosterone-Enhancing Properties
- Resveratrol Blunts the Positive Effects of Exercise Training on Cardiovascular Health in Aged Men
- Citrate and its pharmacological uses in kidney stone disease
- Role of creatine supplementation on exercise-induced cardiovascular function and oxidative stress
- Three weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation affects dihydrotestosterone to testosterone ratio in college-aged rugby players
- Does creatine supplementation improve the plasma lipid profile in healthy male subjects undergoing aerobic training
- Effects of creatine supplementation on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in sedentary healthy males undergoing aerobic training
- Medical management of kidney stones
- Creatine supplementation increases glycogen storage but not GLUT-4 expression in human skeletal muscle
- Creatine supplementation affects glucose homeostasis but not insulin secretion in humans
- Creatine supplementation and health variables: a retrospective study
- Effect of oral creatine supplementation on human muscle GLUT4 protein content after immobilization
- Role of submaximal exercise in promoting creatine and glycogen accumulation in human skeletal muscle
- Potential renal acid load of foods and its influence on urine pH
- Effect of citric acid supplementation on calcium absorption from calcium carbonate
- l-Citrulline supplementation improves O2 uptake kinetics and high-intensity exercise performance in humans
- No effects of oral ribose supplementation on repeated maximal exercise and de novo ATP resynthesis
- Effects of L-tyrosine and carbohydrate ingestion on endurance exercise performance
- Dietary nitrate improves muscle but not cerebral oxygenation status during exercise in hypoxia
- Effect of a long-term oral l-arginine supplementation on glucose metabolism: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Beneficial effects of a long-term oral L-arginine treatment added to a hypocaloric diet and exercise training program in obese, insulin-resistant type 2 diabetic patients
- The effect of oral L-arginine supplementation on fasting glucose, HbA1c, nitric oxide and total antioxidant status in diabetic patients with atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease of lower extremities
- A study of growth hormone release in man after oral administration of amino acids
- Growth hormone responses to varying doses of oral arginine
- No effect of short-term arginine supplementation on nitric oxide production, metabolism and performance in intermittent exercise in athletes
- L-arginine supplementation in peripheral arterial disease: no benefit and possible harm
- Effects of 7 days of arginine-alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation on blood flow, plasma L-arginine, nitric oxide metabolites, and asymmetric dimethyl arginine after resistance exercise
- Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of oral L-citrulline and L-arginine: impact on nitric oxide metabolism
- Hemodynamic and vascular response to resistance exercise with L-arginine
- L-arginine-induced vasodilation in healthy humans: pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationship
- Effect of L-Arginine supplementation on lipid profiles and inflammatory markers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Oral arginine does not stimulate basal or augment exercise-induced GH secretion in either young or old adults
- Acute L-arginine alpha ketoglutarate supplementation fails to improve muscular performance in resistance trained and untrained men
- Restoring vascular nitric oxide formation by L-arginine improves the symptoms of intermittent claudication in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease
- Influence of chronic supplementation of arginine aspartate in endurance athletes on performance and substrate metabolism - a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
- The effect of l-arginine supplementation on lipid profile: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
- Effects of 28 days of beta-alanine and creatine monohydrate supplementation on aerobic power, ventilatory and lactate thresholds, and time to exhaustion
- Effects of β-alanine supplementation on exercise performance: a meta-analysis
- The effect of beta-alanine supplementation on power performance during repeated sprint activity
- beta-Alanine supplementation augments muscle carnosine content and attenuates fatigue during repeated isokinetic contraction bouts in trained sprinters
- Effect of Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Maximal Intensity Exercise in Trained Young Male Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- Beta-alanine and the hormonal response to exercise
- Effect of beta-alanine supplementation on the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) during treadmill running: Pre/post 2 treatment experimental design
- Effects of beta-alanine supplementation on the onset of neuromuscular fatigue and ventilatory threshold in women
- Effects of beta-alanine supplementation and high-intensity interval training on endurance performance and body composition in men; a double-blind trial
- Effects of twenty-eight days of beta-alanine and creatine monohydrate supplementation on the physical working capacity at neuromuscular fatigue threshold
- Effects of beta-alanine supplementation on body composition: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Six weeks of high-intensity interval training with and without beta-alanine supplementation for improving cardiovascular fitness in women
- Important role of muscle carnosine in rowing performance
- β-alanine supplementation to improve exercise capacity and performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Effects of Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Physical Performance in Aerobic-Anaerobic Transition Zones: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- Effects of β-alanine supplementation on performance and body composition in collegiate wrestlers and football players