The acute effects of a multi-ingredient pre-workout supplement on resting energy expenditure and exercise performance in recreationally active females

Abstract

Background

The use of dietary supplements to improve performance is becoming increasingly popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Unfortunately, there is a tremendous lack of research being done regarding female athletes and the use of sport supplements. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of multi-ingredient pre-workout supplement (MIPS) ingestion on resting metabolism and exercise performance in recreationally-active females.

Methods

Fifteen recreationally-active females participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study. Subjects completed baseline, and two experimental testing sessions in a cross-over design fashion. Experimental testing included assessment of resting energy expenditure (REE), heart rate, and blood pressure following the ingestion of a MIPS or placebo. Subjects also completed a repetition to failure test for the back squat (BS) and bench press (BP) at 85% of their 5-repetition maximum followed by the assessment of anaerobic power using a counter-movement vertical jump test and a sprint test on a force-treadmill. Subjective measurements of energy, focus, and fatigue were also assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. Separate repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to assess differences in REE, cardiovascular responses, and subjective markers between conditions. Performance data were analyzed using paired Student’s T-tests.

Results

A significant main effect for condition was observed for REE (p = 0.021) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.011) following ingestion of the MIPS. The supplement condition resulted in a greater number of BP repetitions to failure and total work completed during treadmill test (p = 0.039) compared to placebo (p = 0.037). A significant condition x time interaction for focus was observed with the supplement treatment exhibiting improved focus at 80-min post ingestion (p = 0.046).

Conclusions

Consumption of a MIPS increased resting metabolism following a single dose accompanied by an increase in diastolic blood pressure. Furthermore, acute MIPS ingestion improved upper body muscular endurance and anaerobic capacity while improving feelings of focus following high-intensity exercise in recreationally active females.

Keywords:

• Thermogenic
• Ergogenic aid
• Fatigue
• Muscular endurance

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all of the subjects who participated in the study as well as the research assistants in the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse who helped with data collection.

Funding

This study was co-funded through an unrestricted education grant from the International Society of Sports Nutrition and MusclePharm Corporation (Denver, CO). We would like to thank MusclePharm for providing the supplement and placebo products that allowed us to conduct the study. MusclePharm Corporation is the manufacturer of Fitmiss™ Ignite™. The funding agencies had no role in the experimental design used, collection of data, interpretation of results or concluding statements.

Availability of data and materials

Data and publication materials can be provided upon request. Please contact corresponding author for this information.

Authors’ contributions

MC coordinated data collection, assisted with data analysis and manuscript preparation. CLC assisted with data analysis, interpretation of results and manuscript preparation. SD assisted with interpretation of results. JE assisted with interpretation of results and manuscript preparation. ARJ designed the study, oversaw data collection, analysis and manuscript preparation. All authors approved the final version of this manuscript.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Ethics approval for the study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. All subjects provided written consent before participating in the study.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The study was funded from the International Society of Sports Nutrition and MusclePharm©. The authors declare they have no competing interests. All researchers involved independently collected, analysed, and interpreted the results from this study and have no financial interests concerning the outcome of the current investigation. The results of this study do not constitute endorsement by the authors and/or the institution concerning the nutritional product of interest.

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