The effects of acute and prolonged CRAM supplementation on reaction time and subjective measures of focus and alertness in healthy college students

Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to examine the effect of acute and prolonged (4-weeks) ingestion of a supplement designed to improve reaction time and subjective measures of alertness, energy, fatigue, and focus compared to placebo.MethodsNineteen physically-active subjects (17 men and 2 women) were randomly assigned to a group that either consumed a supplement (21.1 ± 0.6 years; body mass: 80.6 ± 9.4 kg) or placebo (21.3 ± 0.8 years; body mass: 83.4 ± 18.5 kg). During the initial testing session (T1), subjects were provided 1.5 g of the supplement (CRAM; α-glycerophosphocholine, choline bitartrate, phosphatidylserine, vitamins B3, B6, and B12, folic acid, L-tyrosine, anhydrous caffeine, acetyl-L-carnitine, and naringin) or a placebo (PL), and rested quietly for 10-minutes before completing a questionnaire on subjective feelings of energy, fatigue, alertness and focus (PRE). Subjects then performed a 4-minute quickness and reaction test followed by a 10-min bout of exhaustive exercise. The questionnaire and reaction testing sequence was then repeated (POST). Subjects reported back to the lab (T2) following 4-weeks of supplementation and repeated the testing sequence.ResultsReaction time significantly declined (p = 0.050) between PRE and POST at T1 in subjects consuming PL, while subjects under CRAM supplementation were able to maintain (p = 0.114) their performance. Significant performance declines were seen in both groups from PRE to POST at T2. Elevations in fatigue were seen for CRAM at both T1 and T2 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.000, respectively), but only at T2 for PL (p = 0.029). Subjects in CRAM maintained focus between PRE and POST during both T1 and T2 trials (p = 0.152 and p = 0.082, respectively), whereas significant declines in focus were observed between PRE and POST in PL at both trials (p = 0.037 and p = 0.014, respectively). No difference in alertness was seen at T1 between PRE and POST for CRAM (p = 0.083), but a significant decline was recorded at T2 (p = 0.005). Alertness was significantly lower at POST at both T1 and T2 for PL (p = 0.040 and p = 0.33, respectively). No differences in any of these subjective measures were seen between the groups at any time point.ConclusionResults indicate that acute ingestion of CRAM can maintain reaction time, and subjective feelings of focus and alertness to both visual and auditory stimuli in healthy college students following exhaustive exercise. However, some habituation may occur following 4-weeks of supplementation.

Efectos de la ingesta de naringina en combinación con el ejercicio sobre respuestas clínicas: una revisión sistemática

“…Después de la selección y revisión de los artículos, posterior a la eliminación de duplicados, 3 estudios fueron incluidos en el análisis [27][28][29]…”

Phosphatidylserine for the Athlete

“…A study by Hoffman et al (12) involved the use of an S-PS containing supplement using an acute protocol (trial 1) containing 50 mg of PS before testing reaction time, anaerobic power, subjective measures of alertness, energy, fatigue, and focus on 17 male and 2 female college students. After the acute ingestion (trial 1) of the supplement, the subjects either consumed a placebo or the PS containing supplement for 4 weeks and repeated the same testing protocol (trial 2).…”

“…However, the authors are unable to conclude the magnitude of S-PS (50 mg) on the effects of the subjects because each serving of the supplement also contains: a-glycerophosphocholine (150 mg), choline bitartrate (125 mg), niacin (vitamin B3; 30 mg), pyridoxine HCL (vitamin B6; 30 mg), methylcobalamin (vitamin B12; 0.06 mg), folic acid (4 mg), L-tyrosine (500 mg), anhydrous caffeine (60 mg), acetyl-L-carnitine (500 mg), and naringin (20 mg). The researchers (12) suggest that it is possible that some habituation occurred during the chronic supplementation, which would explain the lack of its effect on trial 2.…”

Towards edible ionic liquids - cholinium taurate

“…However, the research performed on athletes has shown that the free choline concentration decrease during intense exercise and that the supplementation of choline can improve endurance, 20,21 and, therefore, choline may be found as an ingredient of many pre-workout sport supplements. 22,23 In these products, choline is mainly found in the form of a cholinium tartrate and less frequently as cholinium citrate. It is known that most of the tartrate is destroyed in the intestinal tract by the present microorganisms, 24 while for the citrate is not found any positive effect on athletic performance or body composition.…”