Effects of Supplementation on Performance in Football Players (FOOTBALL-TCP)

Effects of Combined Taurine, Caffeine, and Phosphatidylserine Supplementation on Physical and Cognitive Performance in Professional Male Football Players

This study investigated the effects of short-term supplementation with taurine, caffeine, and phosphatidylserine on physical and cognitive performance in professional male football players. Eighty-one players were randomly assigned to one of three groups: placebo, taurine plus caffeine, or taurine plus caffeine combined with phosphatidylserine. Supplementation was administered for 10 days, with a final dose taken 60 minutes before a standardized 105-minute football training session.

Primary and secondary outcomes included sprint performance, reaction time, GPS-derived locomotor variables, and technical and tactical performance indicators. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether combined multi-ingredient supplementation could improve performance and attenuate fatigue-related declines under match-like conditions.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cognitive Performance; Physical Performance
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Placebo; Dietary supplement: Taurine and Caffeine; Dietary supplement: Taurine, Caffeine, and Phosphatidylserine

Detailed Description

This randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind study evaluated the effects of combined supplementation with taurine, caffeine, and phosphatidylserine on physical and cognitive performance in professional male football players.

Eighty-one participants aged 19-32 years were randomly assigned to one of three groups: placebo (lactose), taurine plus caffeine (1500 mg taurine + 200 mg caffeine), or taurine plus caffeine plus phosphatidylserine (1500 mg taurine + 150 mg caffeine + 300 mg phosphatidylserine daily for 10 days). All participants completed a 10-day supplementation period, followed by a standardized 105-minute football training session.

Outcome measures included sprint performance (30 m sprint time), reaction time (visual and auditory), GPS-derived variables (total distance, sprint activity, speed, accelerations, and decelerations), and technical and tactical performance indicators assessed by coaching staff and video analysis.

The study was conducted under controlled environmental conditions and in accordance with standardized training procedures. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc testing. The aim was to determine whether multi-ingredient supplementation could enhance performance and reduce fatigue-related declines in a football-specific setting.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 81
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Poland
  • Łódżkie
    • Lodz, Łódżkie, Poland, 94-020
      • ŁKS Łódź

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male professional football (soccer) players
• Age 19-32 years
• Currently participating in regular team training (4-5 sessions per week)
• Medically cleared for participation in high-intensity physical activity
• Provided written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current injury or musculoskeletal condition affecting performance
• Chronic disease or medical condition
• Use of medications that may affect physical or cognitive performance
• Regular use of dietary supplements or caffeine prior to the study period
• Smoking or alcohol consumption
• Failure to comply with study procedures

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Participants received a placebo (lactose) daily for 10 days.	Other: Placebo; Placebo (lactose) administered daily for 10 days
Experimental: Taurine + Caffeine; Participants received taurine (1500 mg) and caffeine (200 mg) daily for 10 days.	Dietary supplement: Taurine and Caffeine; Taurine 1500 mg and caffeine 200 mg administered daily for 10 days
Experimental: Taurine + Caffeine + PS; Participants received taurine (1500 mg), caffeine (150 mg), and phosphatidylserine (300 mg) daily for 10 days.	Dietary supplement: Taurine, Caffeine, and Phosphatidylserine; Taurine 1500 mg, caffeine 150 mg, and phosphatidylserine 300 mg administered daily for 10 days

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
30 m sprint time (seconds)	Time to complete a 30 meter sprint under standardized conditions, expressed in seconds; calculated as the mean of valid trials.	Day 10 (final training session following supplementation)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Reaction time (visual and auditory)	Visual and auditory reaction time measured using standardized computerized reaction time tests (e.g., validated software-based assessment tools), expressed as mean response time in seconds across valid trials.	Day 10 (post-supplementation)
Total distance (meters)	Total distance covered during the standardized training session, measured using GPS tracking devices (e.g., 10 Hz GPS units), expressed in meters.	Day 10 (during standardized training session)
Running speed (m/s)	Mean running speed during the standardized training session, measured using GPS tracking devices (e.g., 10 Hz GPS units), expressed in meters per second.	Day 10 (during standardized training session)
Sprint count (number)	Total number of sprint efforts recorded during the standardized training session using GPS tracking devices.	Day 10 (during standardized training session)
High-speed running distance (meters)	Distance covered at high-speed running thresholds during the standardized training session, measured using GPS tracking and expressed in meters.	Day 10 (during standardized training session)

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sprint time decline (%)	Percentage decline in 30 m sprint time between the first and second halves of the standardized training session, measured using electronic timing gates and expressed as percentage change.	Day 10 (during final training session; comparison between first and second halves)
Running speed decline (%)	Percentage decline in running speed between the first and second halves of the standardized training session, measured using GPS tracking devices and expressed as percentage change.	Day 10 (during final training session; comparison between first and second halves)
Passing accuracy (%)	Percentage of successful passes during the standardized training session, assessed using video-based performance analysis and expressed as a percentage.	Day 10 (during standardized training session)
Dribbling success (%)	Percentage of successful dribbling attempts during the standardized training session, assessed using video-based performance analysis and expressed as a percentage.	Day 10 (during standardized training session)
Ball recoveries (number)	Total number of ball recoveries performed during the standardized training session, assessed using video-based performance analysis and expressed as a count.	Day 10 (during standardized training session)
Tactical performance score (units)	Coach-rated tactical performance during the standardized training session, including positioning, decision-making, and support play, assessed using a standardized rating scale and expressed in standardized score units.	Day 10 (during standardized training session)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Krzysztof Mizera
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Krzysztof Maciej MIZERA, PhD, 1. Vizja University in Warsaw, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Health Sciences, 01-143 Warsaw, Poland

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 5, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): April 5, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 28, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 26, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 21, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: caffeine; taurine; football; sprint performance; reaction time; phosphatidylserine
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Sulfur Compounds; Organic Chemicals; Heterocyclic Compounds; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring; Lipids; Hydrocarbons, Acyclic; Hydrocarbons; Alkaloids; Purinones; Purines; Alkanes; Alkanesulfonic Acids; Sulfonic Acids; Sulfur Acids; Membrane Lipids; Xanthines; Glycerophospholipids; Phosphatidic Acids; Glycerophosphates; Phospholipids; Caffeine; Taurine; Phosphatidylserines
• Other Study ID Numbers: MIZERA-2025-FOOTBALL-RCT

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be publicly available due to confidentiality restrictions related to professional athletes. Data may be available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No