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Menthol may enhance athletic performance, particularly endurance, when ingested or used as a mouth rinse. External application of menthol generally shows no performance benefits for athletes.

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Area of Science:

  • Sports Science
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Menthol is being investigated for its potential to enhance athletic performance.
  • Various application methods exist, including oral, topical, and spray forms.
  • Research often focuses on menthol's cooling sensation during exercise in heat.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the efficacy of menthol as a performance-enhancing aid in sports.
  • To differentiate the effects of internal versus external menthol application.
  • To explore potential mechanisms of menthol's effects on athletic performance.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature on menthol and athletic performance.
  • Analysis of studies using different menthol application methods (mouth rinse, beverage, topical).
  • Comparison of menthol's effects on endurance, speed, strength, and joint range of motion.

Main Results:

  • Internal menthol application (mouth rinse, beverage) shows potential benefits for endurance exercise, especially in heat.
  • External menthol application (gel, spray) has generally not demonstrated performance benefits.
  • Limited evidence suggests menthol may aid joint range of motion post-exercise-induced muscle soreness, but not speed or strength.

Conclusions:

  • Internal menthol application appears more promising for performance enhancement than external methods.
  • Potential mechanisms include thermal, ventilatory, analgesic, and arousing effects.
  • Future research should target well-trained athletes and explore menthol in sports nutrition products.