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Effect of tyrosine ingestion on cognitive and physical performance utilising an intermittent soccer performance test (iSPT) in a warm environment

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of tyrosine (TYR) ingestion on cognitive and physical performance during soccer-specific exercise in a warm environment.

Methods

Eight male soccer players completed an individualised 90 min soccer-simulation intermittent soccer performance test (iSPT), on a non-motorised treadmill, on two occasions, within an environmental chamber (25 °C, 40 % RH). Participants ingested tyrosine (TYR; 250 mL sugar free drink plus 150 mg kg body mass−1 TYR) at both 5 h and 1 h pre-exercise or a placebo control (PLA; 250 mL sugar free drink only) in a double-blind, randomised, crossover design. Cognitive performance (vigilance and dual-task) and perceived readiness to invest physical effort (RTIPE) and mental effort (RTIME) were assessed: pre-exercise, half-time, end of half-time and immediately post-exercise. Physical performance was assessed using the total distance covered in both halves of iSPT.

Results

Positive vigilance responses (HIT) were significantly higher (12.6 ± 1.7 vs 11.5 ± 2.4, p = 0.015) with negative responses (MISS) significantly lower (2.4 ± 1.8 vs 3.5 ± 2.4, p = 0.013) in TYR compared to PLA. RTIME scores were significantly higher in the TYR trial when compared to PLA (6.7 ± 1.2 vs 5.9 ± 1.2, p = 0.039). TYR had no significant (p > 0.05) influence on any other cognitive or physical performance measure.

Conclusion

The results show that TYR ingestion is associated with improved vigilance and RTIME when exposed to individualised soccer-specific exercise (iSPT) in a warm environment. This suggests that increasing the availability of TYR may improve cognitive function during exposure to exercise-heat stress.

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Abbreviations

5-HT:

Serotonin

CNS:

Central nervous system

DA:

Dopamine

HR:

Heart rate

iSPT:

Intermittent soccer performance test

LNAA:

Large neutral amino acids

NA:

Noradrenaline

NMT:

Non-motorised treadmill

PLA:

Placebo

RH:

Relative humidity

RPE:

Rating of perceived exertion

RTIME/RTIPE:

Readiness to invest mental/physical effort

TSS:

Thermal sensation

TYR:

Tyrosine

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Correspondence to Lee Taylor.

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Communicated by Peter Krustrup.

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Coull, N.A., Watkins, S.L., Aldous, J.W.F. et al. Effect of tyrosine ingestion on cognitive and physical performance utilising an intermittent soccer performance test (iSPT) in a warm environment. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 373–386 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-3022-7

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