Trial reportJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition2025
Performance-enhancing effects of caffeine and L-Theanine among Iranian elite wrestlers: a focus on cognitive and specific physical performance.
Trial report in Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Compositional Diversity and Functional Interactions of Bioactive Compounds in Japanese Green Tea: Focus on Matcha, Sencha, and Gyokuro.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- The Role of Nootropic Supplements in Sports: Enhancing Cognitive and Physical Performance Simultaneously.Food science & nutrition · 2026Review
- Effects of L-theanine on cognition, mood and sleep: evidence from human trials.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Review
- Acute caffeine strategies for improving performance in combat sports: a structured narrative review.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Review
- Application of Exercise/Training Models to Evaluate Food Functionality with Special Focus on Preventing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress and Enhancing Exercise Performance.Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Acute effects of combined and isolated caffeine and theanine supplementation on physical and cognitive performance in competitive athletes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCaffeine is a well-known ergogenic aid that can enhance physical and cognitive performance. However, it often induces side effects, such as anxiety and overstimulation, which can be problematic in high-pressure sports like wrestling. L-theanine, a non-stimulant amino acid found in tea, may help mitigate these effects by promoting a calm yet focused mental state. This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of caffeine, L-theanine, and their combination on physical performance, cognitive function, and anxiety in elite male wrestlers.
methodsIn a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 12 elite male wrestlers (21.8 ± 2.1 years) completed four test sessions under randomized conditions: placebo (PLA), caffeine (CAF; 3 mg/kg), L-theanine (THE; 3 mg/kg), and caffeine + L-theanine (CAF+THE; 3 mg/kg each). After 60 minutes, athletes performed the wall-squat test, vertical jump height (VJH), medicine ball throw (MBT), handgrip strength, and the Specific Wrestling Fitness Test (SWFT). Cognitive function was assessed pre- and post-SWFT using a computerized Stroop test. Anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and side effects were recorded.
resultsCAF+THE outperformed PLA in wall-squat time (
conclusionCAF+THE (3 mg/kg each) enhances elite wrestlers' strength, endurance, cognitive speed, and accuracy while reducing anxiety and physiological side effects commonly associated with caffeine alone. This combination represents a safe, practical supplement strategy for combat sports athletes who must maintain explosive performance and mental control under stress. Coaches are encouraged to trial CAF+THE protocols during training to personalize timing and dosage.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.