Dietary Supplement Strategies During Conditioning Training in Athletes: A Network Meta‐Analysis of Peak and Mean Anaerobic Power, VO 2max, and Endurance Performance
Abstract
ABSTRACT Dietary supplements are often used during training to support energy provision, recovery, and adaptation, yet effects on peak and mean anaerobic power, VO2max, and endurance performance remain inconsistent. Unlike prior syntheses centred on neuromuscular outcomes (strength and hypertrophy), this study compared six common supplements—protein, creatine, β‐alanine, HMB, vitamin D, and nitrate—on energy‐system performance (peak anaerobic power, mean anaerobic power, VO2max, and endurance performance) using network meta‐analysis. PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception to 15 March 2025 for RCTs examining dietary supplements and athletic performance. Risk of bias was assessed with the revised Cochrane tool. Random‐effects network meta‐analyses were conducted in R 4.3.1 and Stata 18. Thirty RCTs involving 693 athletes undergoing training programmes combined with supplements or placebo met the inclusion criteria. For peak anaerobic power, protein (SMD 0.85; 95% CI 0.27–1.44; SUCRA 82.9%; moderate certainty), creatine (0.62; 0.20–1.03; 62.5%; moderate), HMB (0.60; 0.28–0.94; 60.7%; moderate), and β‐alanine (0.58; 0.09–1.07; 57.4%; very low) were superior to placebo. In mean power, β‐alanine (0.75; 0.20–1.31; 74.1%; very low), protein (0.74; 0.27–1.20; 73.9%; very low), and creatine (0.74; 0.08–1.39; 71.0%; very low) showed consistent benefits, while HMB provided a moderate improvement (0.45; 0.05–0.86; 45.8%; very low).…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Biportal endoscopic versus microscopic lumbar decompressive laminectomy in patients with spinal stenosis: A randomized controlled trial
- A whey protein-based multi-ingredient nutritional supplement stimulates gains in lean body mass and strength in healthy older men: A randomized controlled trial
- Supplement-based nutritional strategies to tackle frailty: A multifactorial, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept trial of creatine monohydrate as adjunctive treatment for bipolar depression
- Creatine supplementation (3 g/day) and bone health in older women: a 2-year, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
- A Multi-Ingredient Nutritional Supplement in Combination With Resistance Exercise and High-Intensity Interval Training Improves Cognitive Function and Increases N-3 Index in Healthy Older Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.