The application of trimetazidine in healthy individuals: a systematic review

Currently, there is no evidence to support trimetazidine (TMZ) administration aimed at enhancing physical performance or post-exercise recovery in healthy individuals or athletes from the general and athletic populations, respectively. Considering the lack of empirical data, from a scientific and practical perspective, it would be interesting to review research with high methodological quality that examines the effects of TMZ on healthy individuals and athletes from various age groups.

Data sources included English articles that were initially searched by keywords utilizing PubMed, Scopus databases, and the Cochrane Library and published prior to November 2022. Thus, a systematic review of the scientific literature was performed with a traditional PRISMA methodology. An initial keyword search found 2,673 publications, and further screening selected 66 articles, of which only two articles met the inclusion criteria.

Two trials examining the effect of TMZ on healthy members of the general population that were published in 2017 and 2019 were analyzed. Publications examining athletes were not recruited for this analysis.

Currently, there are no data reporting a positive effect of TMZ on physical performance, post-exercise recovery, or other health parameters in members of the general population, while its administration is associated with the development of relatively common adverse effects.