Pre-Workout Supplement for Exercise Performance

Overseen By Gabe Wilson, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Applied Science & Performance Institute

Must not be taking: GLP-1, Anti-inflammatories, Hormone therapies, others

Disqualifiers: Sedentary, Highly trained, Cardiovascular disease, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 1 week

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether a new pre-workout supplement can boost exercise performance in healthy adults. Researchers aim to determine if the supplement enhances endurance and strength, reduces exercise fatigue, and influences mood and energy levels. Participants will use both the proprietary pre-workout supplement and a placebo, reporting their experiences during and after exercise. Ideal candidates exercise regularly but not professionally and do not currently use other performance-enhancing supplements. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to the understanding of exercise supplements and their potential benefits.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

You may need to stop taking certain supplements like creatine, rhodiola, L-Theanine, glycerol, and other performance enhancers for at least two weeks before and during the study. Prescription medications that affect exercise adaptation may also need to be stopped. It's best to discuss your specific medications with the study team.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that pre-workout supplements can cause side effects, including stomach problems, changes in heart rhythm, and higher blood pressure. Some studies suggest that daily use might lead to heart issues or reduce effectiveness as the body becomes accustomed to them.

Limited evidence exists on how short-term use affects hormones or muscle damage from exercise. Many pre-workout supplements contain multiple ingredients, sometimes including substances banned in sports.

Overall, while pre-workout supplements are marketed to enhance exercise performance, potential risks should be considered. Monitoring the body's reactions and consulting a healthcare professional if concerns arise is advisable. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the proprietary pre-workout supplement because it introduces a unique approach to enhancing exercise performance. Unlike other pre-workout options that often rely on stimulants like caffeine, this supplement uses a Liquid IV pre-workout powder designed to optimize hydration and nutrient delivery. This innovative delivery method could potentially improve endurance and recovery times, making it a promising alternative for athletes and fitness enthusiasts looking for a balanced performance boost without the jitters commonly associated with traditional pre-workouts.

What evidence suggests that this pre-workout supplement might be effective for improving exercise performance?

Research has shown that pre-workout supplements can greatly enhance exercise performance. In one study, participants who took these supplements demonstrated more power and endurance than those who received a placebo. Another study found that pre-workout supplements helped reduce tiredness and increase strength during exercise. Caffeine, a common ingredient in these supplements, boosts athletic performance and focus. In this trial, participants will receive either the proprietary pre-workout supplement or a control placebo. These findings suggest that the new pre-workout supplement being tested could effectively improve endurance, strength, and mood during workouts. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Eric Sikorski, PhD

Principal Investigator

Applied Science and Performance Institute

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy adults interested in improving their exercise performance. Participants should be looking to enhance muscle endurance, strength, energy levels, and cognition during workouts. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided but typically would exclude those with health conditions affecting physical activity.

Inclusion Criteria

Must be recreationally trained or trained/developmental as previously defined (McKay et al., 2021)

Able to read and write in English

Willing to maintain their regular supplement routine during the study (other than what is listed in exclusion criteria)

Exclusion Criteria

Sedentary individuals performing less than 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week and engaging in resistance training fewer than 2 days per week, with no structured exercise routine

Highly trained/national level or professional athlete individuals training ≥5 days per week in structured programs, including NCAA Division II/III athletes, national/professional competitors, or those targeting top 20% sport-specific performance norms

Regular smoker

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants take the pre-workout supplement or placebo before exercise in two separate sessions and complete exercise tests

1 week

2 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Control placebo
• proprietary pre-workout supplement

Trial Overview Researchers are testing a proprietary pre-workout supplement against a placebo to see if it improves exercise performance, reduces perceived exertion, and positively affects mood and energy. Participants will take the supplement or placebo before exercising in two separate sessions.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: proprietary pre-workout supplement Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Liquid IV pre-workout supplement powder

Group II: Control treatment Placebo Group 1 Intervention

inactive/inert placebo mixture

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Applied Science & Performance Institute

Lead Sponsor

Trials

17

Recruited

1,200+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12028264/

Pre-Workout Supplements and Their Effects on ... Pre-workout supplements were associated with improved physical performance and possible cardiovascular changes, with these effects being ...

2. jissn.biomedcentral.com jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-016-0138-7

The effect of acute pre-workout supplementation on power ... Ingestion of the pre-workout dietary supplement led to significant improvements in anaerobic peak and mean power values in comparison to the placebo and ...

3. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1186/s12970-014-0040-0

Acute effects of a commercially-available pre-workout ... Research on beta-alanine has shown that supplementation improves the rate of fatigue in sprinters [Citation10] and improves YoYo Intermittent ...

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07225608

The Acute Effects of Liquid IV's Pre-Workout Supplement ... The goal of this study is to learn if a new pre-workout supplement can improve exercise performance in healthy adults.

5. uhhospitals.org uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2025/05/pre-workout-supplements-are-they-worth-taking

Pre-Workout Supplements: Are They Worth Taking? “Caffeine is the most widely studied pre-workout ingredient and a proven enhancer of athletic performance, alertness and concentration,” says ...

6. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23515510/

Efficacy and safety of ingredients found in preworkout ... Adverse effects reported in association with preworkout supplements include gastrointestinal symptoms, cardiac arrhythmia, blood pressure ...

7. jissn.biomedcentral.com jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-018-0247-6

Multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements, safety implications ... Limited evidence exists regarding the effect of short-term MIPS consumption on hormones or markers of muscle damage caused by acute exercise.

8. mcpress.mayoclinic.org mcpress.mayoclinic.org/nutrition-fitness/preworkout-supplements-whats-safe-what-should-you-avoid/

Preworkout supplements: What's safe? What should you ... Marketed to boost performance during a workout. Intended to be ... For a performance benefit, consume nitrate 2 to 3 hours before exercise.

9. droracle.ai droracle.ai/articles/217644/is-daily-pre-workout-pre-exercise-supplement-use-safe

Is daily pre-workout (pre-exercise) supplement use safe? Daily use of pre-workout supplements is generally not recommended due to potential cardiovascular risks, tolerance development to key ...

10. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1186/s12970-018-0247-6

Full article: Multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements ... As with any dietary supplement, the use of MIPS carries implications for the athlete, as many formulations may intentionally contain banned ...