Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41320283›Full record

Trial reportJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition2025

Theacrine as a novel ergogenic aid: impact on canoe sprint performance.

Pavle Jovanov, Milan Vraneš, Otto Barak, Maksim Rapaić, Nikola Maravić, Aleksandar Marić, Borislav Obradović

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

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. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Pavle JovanovInstitute of Food Technology in Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0002-6225-2655
Milan VranešFaculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-8259-7549
Otto BarakFaculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-6727-8304
Maksim RapaićFaculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-5760-4014
Nikola MaravićInstitute of Food Technology in Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-9926-7802
Aleksandar MarićInstitute of Food Technology in Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-8889-6267
Borislav ObradovićFaculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0002-0251-8933

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCaffeine is a popular ergogenic aid in high-intensity sports, but it can cause side effects like cardiovascular stress and tolerance buildup. Theacrine, a structurally similar purine alkaloid, may offer comparable performance benefits with fewer adverse effects. This study aimed to assess the acute effects of theacrine, caffeine, and their combination on performance and physiological responses in elite canoe sprint athletes.

methodsTwenty highly trained male canoe sprint athletes participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial with four conditions: placebo (

resultsCaffeine significantly improved the 500-meter time trial (-1.872 s vs.

conclusionCaffeine remains a powerful ergogenic aid in sprint paddling, enhancing both mechanical output and muscle oxygen utilization. Although theacrine alone showed limited ergogenic effects, its combination with caffeine produced additional improvements compared to placebo, indicating a possible complementary role. These findings support targeted supplementation strategies in elite sports.

Indexed as

Athletic PerformanceCaffeinePerformance-Enhancing SubstancesAdultCross-Over StudiesDouble-Blind MethodExercise TestHemoglobinsHumansMaleOxygen ConsumptionOxygen SaturationUric AcidYoung Adult1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acidCaffeineHemoglobinsPerformance-Enhancing SubstancesUric Acidcaffeinecanoe sprintmoxy monitorTheacrine

Identifiers

PMID41320283
PMCPMC12667338

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.