The Ergogenic Potential of Succinic Acid in Exercise Performance and Post-Exercise Recovery: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biochemistry
• Human Metabolism

Background:

• Succinic acid is a crucial intermediate in the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, vital for ATP production.
• Exercise significantly alters succinic acid levels in various bodily fluids.
• Training status, exercise type, and intensity modulate succinate responses to physical activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the effects of succinate or succinic acid supplementation on exercise performance and recovery in trained individuals.
• To evaluate the quality of evidence supporting succinate supplementation for athletic enhancement.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines, searching major scientific databases without date restrictions.
• Inclusion of interventional studies on succinate supplementation and exercise outcomes.
• Methodological quality assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool.

Main Results:

• Six studies with 153 participants were included; five had a high risk of bias.
• The single low-risk study found no performance benefits.
• Some studies reported improvements in aerobic capacity, workload, and physiological markers, but often used multi-ingredient supplements and had methodological limitations.

Conclusions:

• While succinate supplementation shows potential for enhancing aerobic performance and physiological markers, the current evidence is unreliable due to high bias in most studies.
• The use of multi-ingredient formulations complicates the isolation of succinic acid's specific effects.
• Further well-controlled trials with isolated succinic acid are necessary to establish its efficacy for exercise performance.