Date of Award

January 2019

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Exercise and Sport Science

First Advisor

Michael T. Lane

Department Affiliation

Exercise and Sport Science

Second Advisor

Aaron D. Sciascia

Department Affiliation

Exercise and Sport Science

Third Advisor

D. Alexander Varakin

Department Affiliation

Psychology

Abstract

Introduction: The use of multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements has been steadily on the rise in the fitness industries. Companies make claims about improvements in performance both physically and cognitively for users but seldom provide research to back up the claims made about the ingredients or dosages. Purpose: To examine the effects of Huperzine-A and Alpha-GPC on short term memory and anaerobic power output, post exhaustion compared to caffeine and placebo in healthy college age students. Methods: The study was conducted as a double blind, placebo controlled, randomized design on 62 healthy adults (N=62 height 68.4 ± 3.5 in., weight 78.5 ± 15.1 kg.). The wash out period was a minimum of 48 hours after completion of the familiarization. Subjects reported to the exercise physiology lab thirty minutes before testing began and consumed either a caffeine, Alpha-GPC and Hup-A, or placebo solution. After the thirty-minute digestion period subjects performed one computer-based short-term memory test, and a thirty-second Wingate anaerobic power test. Subjects then performed an exhaustion protocol before repeating the memory and power test. Once all testing was completed subjects returned between 2 and 14 days after the last test and repeat the protocol. A power analysis was run using G* Power software 3.1.9.2 based from Zeigenfuss et al., (2008). The percent change between pre and post was compared across visits using ANOVA with repeated measures. Significance was found with an Alpha level P ≤ 0.05 with Tukey Post Hoc analysis will be used to determine pairwise comparisons. All stats were run on IBM SPSS 23. Results: The ANOVA with repeated measures and Tukey Post Hoc analysis found there was no significant difference in performance pre to post, between groups, or factoring the percent change pre to post. Conclusion: This result suggests there is no physical or mental benefit acutely dosing 600 mg. of Alpha-GPC and 200 mcg. of Huperzine-A in healthy recreationally active adults. This was the first study to look at the two in combination so, the finding is neither supported nor opposed to the current body of research. The finding does oppose the logic some supplement companies have been using to justify their sales tactics. Future research should investigate the effects of a loading period on physical and mental performance.

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