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Nutritional Ergogenic Aids in Cycling: A Systematic Review
Alberto Valiño-Marques1, Alexandre Lamas2, José M Miranda2
1Faculty of Sport Sciences, European University of Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain.
Nutrients
|June 19, 2024
Summary
Caffeine supplementation significantly benefits cycling performance. Sodium bicarbonate and the combination of caffeine with creatine show potential positive effects for cyclists. Other supplements had no significant impact.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Nutritional ergogenic aids are widely used by athletes to enhance performance.
- The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) classifies ergogenic aids into groups, with Group A including caffeine, creatine, sodium bicarbonate, beta-alanine, nitrates, and glycerol.
- Understanding the efficacy of these supplements in cycling is crucial for optimizing training and competition strategies.
Approach:
- A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases.
- Included studies were Randomized Controlled Trials or crossover design studies in healthy adults.
- Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale.
Key Points:
- Thirty-six studies with 701 participants were analyzed, examining individual and combined supplements.
- Caffeine supplementation demonstrated a clear benefit for cycling performance.
- Sodium bicarbonate and the combination of caffeine and creatine showed potential positive effects.
Conclusions:
- Caffeine is an effective ergogenic aid for cyclists.
- Sodium bicarbonate and caffeine-creatine combinations warrant further investigation for performance enhancement.
- Other Group A ergogenic aids, individually or combined, did not show statistically significant effects on cycling performance in this review.
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