Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40859880›Full record

Trial reportJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition2025

Topical carnosine gel improves intermittent high-intensity exercise performance in world-class rugby sevens players.

C Martyn Beaven, Carl James, Daniel T McMaster, Nic Brockelbank

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

4 authors.

C Martyn BeavenUniversity of Waikato, Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, Tauranga, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0003-2900-7460
Carl JamesDepartment of Sports and Health Sciences, Academy of Wellness and Human Development, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, SAR China.ORCID 0000-0003-2099-5343
Daniel T McMasterAll Blacks Sevens, New Zealand Rugby, Wellington, New Zealand.
Nic BrockelbankUniversity of Waikato, Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, Tauranga, New Zealand.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe topical application of a carnosine gel may increase intramuscular carnosine concentrations and thereby improve exercise performance. This study investigated the effect of a topical carnosine gel on intermittent high-intensity exercise performance in rugby sevens players.

methodsSeven world-class rugby sevens players (body mass: 97.5 ± 4.1 kg; 1,452 International caps) completed two performance tests in a counterbalanced, crossover, triple-blind design. Players applied either 10 mL of a topical carnosine gel (CAR) or an ultrasound placebo gel (PLA) 40 minutes before undertaking 12 intermittent sprints on a cycle ergometer, interrupted by a 2-minute break after Sprint 6. The activity profile was 24 s cycling at 3 W/kg, 6 s at maximal intensity sprint, followed by a 30s rest. Average power, peak power, and HR were recorded for every 6 s sprint. RPE was recorded at the end of Sprint 6 and Sprint 12.

resultsFor peak power, two-way ANOVA revealed time (

conclusionsTopical carnosine gel improved power production in world-class rugby sevens players. Future research should determine whether carno- sine gels increase intramuscular carnosine concentrations to support the observed improvements in anaerobic performance during high-intensity exercise.

Indexed as

Athletic PerformanceCarnosineRugbyAdministration, TopicalAdultCross-Over StudiesDouble-Blind MethodExercise TestGelsHumansMaleYoung AdultCarnosineGelsathletic performancebufferingpeak powerTransdermal

Identifiers

PMID40859880
PMCPMC12427510

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.