Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32623642›Full record

ArticleSports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)2020

Menthol as an Ergogenic Aid for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games: An Expert-Led Consensus Statement Using the Modified Delphi Method.

M J Barwood, O R Gibson, D J Gillis, O Jeffries, N B Morris, J Pearce, M L Ross, C Stevens, K Rinaldi, S N Kounalakis and 4 more

Registry-linked trialOpen access · hybridAbstract readConsensus Statement
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07482046 (Effectiveness of Topical Menthol as A Cooling Method During Exercise in A Recreational Runner Population), which is not on this map. Cited by 31 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
31citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
4.0field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07482046 phase2 / phase3completednot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Effectiveness of Topical Menthol as A Cooling Method During Exercise in A Recreational Runner Population

TypeinterventionalSponsorTaisho Pharmaceutical IndonesiaRan2023 to 2023Enrolled37ConditionsHeat Stress, Athletic PerformanceArmsLight blue gel with the trademark Counterpain COOL® (License Number: POM QD. 111 709 501) containing the active substance Menthol 4%., Placebo
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

31 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 56 citations in OpenAlex.

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  17. Effect of Menthol on Dyspnea During Exercise in Individuals With COPD.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation · 2025
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors at 13 institutions in 8 countries.

M J BarwoodDepartment of Sport, Health and Nutrition, Leeds Trinity University, Brownberrie Lane, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 5HD, UK. m.barwood@leedstrinity.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1409-2191
O R GibsonCentre for Human Performance, Exercise and Rehabilitation (CHPER), Department Life Sciences, Division of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK.
D J GillisHuman Performance Laboratory, Department of Sport and Movement Science, Salem State University, Salem, MA, 01970, USA.
O JeffriesSchool of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Catherine Cookson Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
N B MorrisDepartment of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
J PearcePerformance Nutrition Technical Lead, High Performance Sport New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand.
M L RossAustralian Institute of Sport, Bruce, 2617, Australia.
C StevensSchool of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Hogbin Dr, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450, Australia.
K RinaldiLaboratoire ACTES (EA3596), Université des Antilles et de la Guyane, BP 250, 97157, Pointe-à-Pitre, France.
S N KounalakisFaculty of Physical and Cultural Education, Evelpidon Hellenic Army Academy, Vari, Greece.
F RieraUPRES EA 35-96, UFR-STAPS, Université des Antilles et de la Guyane, BP 250, 97157, Pointe à Pitre Cedex, France.
T MündelSchool of Sport Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Palmerston, New Zealand.
M WaldronCollege of Engineering, Applied Sports Science Technology and Medicine Research Centre (A-STEM), Swansea University Bay Campus, Swansea, Wales, UK.
R BestCentre for Sport Science and Human Performance, Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton, 3200, New Zealand.
Australian Sports Commission · AUBrunel University of London · GBHellenic Military Academy · GRLeeds Trinity University · GBMassey University · NZNewcastle University · GBSalem State University · USSouthern Cross University · AUSwansea University · GBThe Ark · IEUniversité de Perpignan · FRUniversity of Copenhagen · DKWaikato Institute of Technology · NZ

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMenthol topical application and mouth rinsing are ergogenic in hot environments, improving performance and perception, with differing effects on body temperature regulation. Consequently, athletes and federations are beginning to explore the possible benefits to elite sport performance for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, which will take place in hot (~ 31 °C), humid (70% RH) conditions. There is no clear consensus on safe and effective menthol use for athletes, practitioners, or researchers. The present study addressed this shortfall by producing expert-led consensus recommendations.

methodFourteen contributors were recruited following ethical approval. A three-step modified Delphi method was used for voting on 96 statements generated following literature consultation; 192 statements total (96/96 topical application/mouth rinsing). Round 1 contributors voted to "agree" or "disagree" with statements; 80% agreement was required to accept statements. In round 2, contributors voted to "support" or "change" their round 1 unaccepted statements, with knowledge of the extant voting from round 1. Round 3 contributors met to discuss voting against key remaining statements.

resultsForty-seven statements reached consensus in round 1 (30/17 topical application/rinsing); 14 proved redundant. Six statements reached consensus in round 2 (2/4 topical application/rinsing); 116 statements proved redundant. Nine further statements were agreed in round 3 (6/3 topical application/rinsing) with caveats. DISCUSSION: Consensus was reached on 62 statements in total (38/24 topical application/rinsing), enabling the development of guidance on safe menthol administration, with a view to enhancing performance and perception in the heat without impairing body temperature regulation.

Indexed as

Administration, TopicalMouthwashesPerformance-Enhancing SubstancesAthletic PerformanceDelphi TechniqueHumansMentholTokyoMentholMouthwashesPerformance-Enhancing Substances

Identifiers

PMID32623642
PMCPMC7497433
OpenAlexW3029147575

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.