Supplements may boost footballers' mental endurance and decision-making
NCT ID NCT07696052
First seen Jul 10, 2026 · Last updated Sep 15, 2026 · Updated 11 times
Summary
This study tests whether a 14-day course of taurine, caffeine, and phosphatidylserine supplements can help professional male football players resist mental fatigue and make better tactical decisions during games. Sixty-two players from two clubs will be randomly assigned to receive either a placebo, taurine plus caffeine, or taurine plus caffeine plus phosphatidylserine. Researchers will measure changes in decision accuracy and visual search efficiency before and after the supplementation period.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Taurine, caffeine, and phosphatidylserine dietary supplements
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this supplement combination could help athletes maintain sharp decision-making and focus during mentally demanding games or training.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial in a specific group (male professional football players), so results may not apply to others. Supplements may cause side effects like jitters or sleep issues.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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65 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Aug 2026
- Finished
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Sep 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 37 years
- Sex
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Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Male professional outfield football players aged 18 to 37 years. * First-team players or selected U19 players aged 18 years or older who are regularly integrated into first-team training. * Regular participation in club training. * At least 5 years of systematic football training experience. * Free from injury or illness limiting full participation in training and testing. * Normal or corrected-to-normal vision. * Ability to complete the laboratory and field-based testing procedures. * Written informed consent provided before participation. Exclusion Criteria: * Goalkeepers. * Current injury or illness limiting full participation in testing. * Neurological disease. * Recent concussion or head trauma. * Uncorrected visual impairment. * Use of phosphatidylserine, nootropic agents, or strong stimulants during the previous 4 weeks. * Non-standard caffeine intake on testing days. * Failure to comply with pre-test standardization procedures. * Failed eye-tracker calibration. * Loss of more than 30% of gaze data during the football-specific decision-making task. * Withdrawal of consent.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Professional Football Training Center
Lodz, Poland
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Professional Football Training Center
Warsaw, Poland
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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