Mental FatigueTCPS-FootNCT07696052
Phosphatidylserine, Taurine, and Caffeine for Cognitive Fatigue in Professional Football Players
A study testing Taurine Plus Caffeine and Taurine, Caffeine, and Phosphatidylserine in people with Mental Fatigue and Cognitive Performance, run by Vizja University in Warsaw at 2 sites in Poland.
Trial summary
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial evaluated neurocognitive fatigue resistance and football-specific decision-making following 28 days of taurine-caffeine supplementation with or without phosphatidylserine in professional male football players. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 37 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Mental Fatigue, Cognitive Performance, Athletic Performance
- What is being tested?
- Taurine Plus Caffeine and Taurine, Caffeine, and Phosphatidylserine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 65 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesPoland
- Study dates
- 6 Aug 2026to 8 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 37 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male professional outfield football players aged 18 to 37 years.
- First-team players or selected U19 players aged 18 years or older who are regularly integrated into first-team training.
- Regular participation in club training.
- At least 5 years of systematic football training experience.
- Free from injury or illness limiting full participation in training and testing.
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision.
- Ability to complete the laboratory and field-based testing procedures.
- Written informed consent provided before participation.
Who cannot join
- Goalkeepers.
- Current injury or illness limiting full participation in testing.
- Neurological disease.
- Recent concussion or head trauma.
- Uncorrected visual impairment.
- Use of phosphatidylserine, nootropic agents, or strong stimulants during the previous 4 weeks.
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- Non-standard caffeine intake on testing days.
- Failure to comply with pre-test standardization procedures.
- Failed eye-tracker calibration.
- Loss of more than 30% of gaze data during the football-specific decision-making task.
- Withdrawal of consent.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
Poland2 sites
Professional Football Training Center
Lodz
Professional Football Training Center
Warsaw
About this study
Official title: Neurocognitive Fatigue Resistance, Visual Search Efficiency, and Tactical Decision-Making After Phosphatidylserine-Containing Taurine-Caffeine Supplementation in Professional Male Football Players
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial evaluated neurocognitive fatigue resistance and football-specific decision-making following 28 days of taurine-caffeine supplementation with or without phosphatidylserine in professional male football players. Sixty-five male outfield football players from two professional clubs were randomized to placebo, taurine plus caffeine, or taurine plus caffeine plus phosphatidylserine. Neurocognitive fatigue resistance was evaluated during a standardized high-load Stroop/Flanker task, while football-specific tactical decision-making, visual-search behavior, and field-based reactive decision performance were assessed at baseline and after 28 days of supplementation.
Read the detailed description
This study was designed to determine whether adding phosphatidylserine to taurine-caffeine supplementation improves neurocognitive fatigue resistance and football-specific decision-making in professional male football players. Participants completed familiarization procedures, baseline laboratory and field testing, 28 days of supplementation, and post-intervention laboratory and field testing. Neurocognitive fatigue resistance was assessed using a standardized high-load Stroop/Flanker protocol. Football-specific decision-making was evaluated using video-based tactical decision tasks incorporating offensive and transitional match situations and requiring rapid selection of the most appropriate tactical response. Visual-search behavior was assessed using screen-based eye tracking during the football-specific decision task. Field-based reactive decision performance was evaluated using a standardized Reactive Passing Decision Test requiring perception of an external visual stimulus followed by selection and execution of the appropriate passing response. Outcome assessments were conducted before and after the 28-day supplementation period under standardized testing conditions.
- Conditions
- Mental Fatigue, Cognitive Performance, Athletic Performance, Soccer Performance, Decision Making
- Being tested
- Placebo, Taurine Plus Caffeine, Taurine, Caffeine, and Phosphatidylserine
- Keywords
- Phosphatidylserine, Taurine, Caffeine, Football Players, Soccer, Neurocognitive Load, Visual Search, Eye Tracking, Tactical Decision-Making, Stroop Flanker Task, Reactive Passing Decision Test, Sports Nutrition
- Medical subject headings
- Mental Fatigue
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
PlaceboDietary supplement
Inert placebo matched with the active supplements for appearance, number of units, and packaging. The placebo will be administered for 28 days.
Taurine Plus CaffeineDietary supplement
Taurine 1500 mg/day plus caffeine 200 mg/day administered for 28 days. On training and testing days, the supplement will be consumed approximately 60 minutes before the main training session or testing procedure. On non-training days, it will be consumed at a consistent morning time.
Taurine, Caffeine, and PhosphatidylserineDietary supplement
Taurine 1500 mg/day plus caffeine 200 mg/day plus phosphatidylserine 600 mg/day administered for 28 days. On training and testing days, the supplement will be consumed approximately 60 minutes before the main training session or testing procedure. On non-training days, it will be consumed at a consistent morning time.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Participants randomized to this arm will receive an inert placebo for 28 days. The placebo will be provided in identical coded packs matched for appearance, number of units, and packaging with the active supplements. Receives: Dietary Supplement: Placebo |
| Taurine Plus Caffeine | Active comparator | Participants randomized to this arm will receive taurine 1500 mg/day plus caffeine 200 mg/day for 28 days. On training and testing days, the supplement will be consumed approximately 60 minutes before the main training session or testing procedure. On non-training days, it will be consumed at a consistent morning time. Receives: Dietary Supplement: Taurine Plus Caffeine |
| Taurine, Caffeine, and Phosphatidylserine | Experimental | Participants randomized to this arm will receive taurine 1500 mg/day plus caffeine 200 mg/day plus phosphatidylserine 600 mg/day for 28 days. On training and testing days, the supplement will be consumed approximately 60 minutes before the main training session or testing procedure. On non-training days, it will be consumed at a consistent morning time. Receives: Dietary Supplement: Taurine, Caffeine, and Phosphatidylserine |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Tactical Inhibitory Decision Accuracy Under Neurocognitive Load
Tactical inhibitory decision accuracy will be assessed using football-specific video clips requiring inhibition of an immediately attractive but suboptimal tactical action. Responses will be scored as 1 point for an optimal decision, 0.5 points for an acceptable decision, and 0 points for an incorrect decision. The outcome will be calculated as the mean score across inhibitory tactical clips. The score ranges from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating better tactical inhibitory decision accuracy.
Measured: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Secondary outcomes (10)
Overall Football-Specific Optimal Decision Rate
Overall football-specific decision accuracy will be assessed using video-based offensive and transitional football situations. Players will select the most appropriate tactical option under time pressure. The outcome will be expressed as the percentage of correct or expert-rated optimal decisions, with higher values indicating better decision-making accuracy.
Measured: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Football-Specific Decision Time
Decision time will be assessed during the football-specific video decision-making task. It will be measured as the time taken to select a tactical response after the critical decision point. The outcome will be expressed in milliseconds, with lower values indicating faster decision-making.
Measured: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Impulsive Tactical Error Rate
Impulsive tactical errors will be assessed during football-specific video clips. These errors will include selections of immediately attractive but suboptimal tactical options, such as inappropriate forward actions, low-quality shots, or forced progressive decisions when a safer or more appropriate option is available.
Measured: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Stroop/Flanker Time-on-Task Reaction-Time Trajectory
Correct-trial reaction time will be assessed across six consecutive 5-minute epochs of the 30-minute high-load Stroop/Flanker task. Time-on-task performance decrement will be quantified from the within-session trajectory of reaction time across successive epochs, with a greater increase in reaction time indicating greater neurocognitive performance deterioration and a smaller increase indicating greater neurocognitive fatigue resistance. Response accuracy across epochs will be reported as a complementary measure.
Measured: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Stroop/Flanker Reaction-Time Variability
Reaction-time variability will be assessed during the 30-minute high-load Stroop/Flanker task. It will be quantified from valid correct-trial reaction times as a within-participant measure of response-time variability and expressed in milliseconds, with greater variability indicating lower response stability.
Measured: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Post-Task Mental Fatigue
Perceived mental fatigue will be assessed immediately before and immediately after the 30-minute neurocognitive-load task using a 0-10 numerical rating scale, with higher scores indicating greater perceived mental fatigue. The registered outcome will be the post-task mental-fatigue score assessed at baseline and after 28 days of supplementation. The acute pre-to-post task change will additionally be used as a manipulation check of the neurocognitive-load protocol.
Measured: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Time to First Fixation on the Optimal Tactical Area of Interest
Time to first fixation on the optimal tactical option will be assessed using screen-based eye-tracking during the football-specific video decision-making task. The outcome will be expressed in milliseconds and will reflect how quickly the player visually orients toward the expert-defined optimal option.
Measured: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Dwell Time on the Optimal Tactical Area of Interest
Dwell time on the optimal tactical option will be assessed using screen-based eye-tracking during the football-specific video decision-making task. The outcome will be expressed as the percentage of total viewing time spent fixating on the expert-defined optimal tactical option.
Measured: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Situational-Awareness Accuracy
Situational awareness accuracy will be assessed using probes presented after selected football-specific video clips. These probes will evaluate whether players correctly identified key tactical information, including available space, pressure location, number of defenders, teammate positioning, and defensive-line configuration.
Measured: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Reactive Passing Decision-Selection Accuracy
Reactive Passing Decision Test accuracy will be assessed during a field-based football-specific task. Players will dribble into a decision zone and respond to a late visual or situational cue by selecting and executing the optimal passing option. The outcome will be expressed as the percentage of accurate decisions.
Measured: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Jul 2026
- Study start6 Aug 2026
- Primary completion8 Sep 2026
- Study completion8 Sep 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Mental FatigueStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three parallel groups: placebo, taurine plus caffeine, or taurine plus caffeine plus phosphatidylserine. The intervention lasted 28 days, and outcomes were assessed at baseline and after the supplementation period.
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 65 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Vizja University in Warsaw
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Krzysztof Mizera, Vizja University in Warsaw
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07696052
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MIZERA -4-TCPS-FOOT-2026
- Acronym
- TCPS-Foot
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 5 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 14 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: No individual participant data will be shared because the study includes a small sample of professional football players from a limited number of clubs, which may increase the risk of indirect participant identification. Only aggregated and anonymized study results will be reported.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Neurocognitive Fatigue Resistance, Visual Search Efficiency, and Tactical Decision-Making After Phosphatidylserine-Containing Taurine-Caffeine Supplementation in Professional Male Football Players
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07696052
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TCPS-Foot / MIZERA -4-TCPS-FOOT-2026
- Conditions
- Mental Fatigue, Cognitive Performance, Athletic Performance, Soccer Performance, Decision Making
- Keywords
- Phosphatidylserine, Taurine, Caffeine, Football Players, Soccer, Neurocognitive Load, Visual Search, Eye Tracking
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 65 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Vizja University in WarsawUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education
- Study start
- 6 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 8 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 8 Sep 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 10 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial evaluated neurocognitive fatigue resistance and football-specific decision-making following 28 days of taurine-caffeine supplementation with or without phosphatidylserine in professional male football players. Sixty-five male outfield football players from two professional clubs were randomized to placebo, taurine plus caffeine, or taurine plus caffeine plus phosphatidylserine. Neurocognitive fatigue resistance was evaluated during a standardized high-load Stroop/Flanker task, while football-specific tactical decision-making, visual-search behavior, and field-based reactive decision performance were assessed at baseline and after 28 days of supplementation.
Detailed description
This study was designed to determine whether adding phosphatidylserine to taurine-caffeine supplementation improves neurocognitive fatigue resistance and football-specific decision-making in professional male football players. Participants completed familiarization procedures, baseline laboratory and field testing, 28 days of supplementation, and post-intervention laboratory and field testing. Neurocognitive fatigue resistance was assessed using a standardized high-load Stroop/Flanker protocol. Football-specific decision-making was evaluated using video-based tactical decision tasks incorporating offensive and transitional match situations and requiring rapid selection of the most appropriate tactical response. Visual-search behavior was assessed using screen-based eye tracking during the football-specific decision task. Field-based reactive decision performance was evaluated using a standardized Reactive Passing Decision Test requiring perception of an external visual stimulus followed by selection and execution of the appropriate passing response. Outcome assessments were conducted before and after the 28-day supplementation period under standardized testing conditions.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Participants were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three parallel groups: placebo, taurine plus caffeine, or taurine plus caffeine plus phosphatidylserine. The intervention lasted 28 days, and outcomes were assessed at baseline and after the supplementation period.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Dietary Supplement: PlaceboParticipants randomized to this arm will receive an inert placebo for 28 days. The placebo will be provided in identical coded packs matched for appearance, number of units, and packaging with the active supplements. |
| Taurine Plus Caffeine | Active comparator | Dietary Supplement: Taurine Plus CaffeineParticipants randomized to this arm will receive taurine 1500 mg/day plus caffeine 200 mg/day for 28 days. On training and testing days, the supplement will be consumed approximately 60 minutes before the main training session or testing procedure. On non-training days, it will be consumed at a consistent morning time. |
| Taurine, Caffeine, and Phosphatidylserine | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Taurine, Caffeine, and PhosphatidylserineParticipants randomized to this arm will receive taurine 1500 mg/day plus caffeine 200 mg/day plus phosphatidylserine 600 mg/day for 28 days. On training and testing days, the supplement will be consumed approximately 60 minutes before the main training session or testing procedure. On non-training days, it will be consumed at a consistent morning time. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 37 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Male professional outfield football players aged 18 to 37 years.
- First-team players or selected U19 players aged 18 years or older who are regularly integrated into first-team training.
- Regular participation in club training.
- At least 5 years of systematic football training experience.
- Free from injury or illness limiting full participation in training and testing.
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Goalkeepers.
- Current injury or illness limiting full participation in testing.
- Neurological disease.
- Recent concussion or head trauma.
- Uncorrected visual impairment.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| PlaceboInert placebo matched with the active supplements for appearance, number of units, and packaging. The placebo will be administered for 28 days. | Dietary supplement | Placebo |
| Taurine Plus CaffeineTaurine 1500 mg/day plus caffeine 200 mg/day administered for 28 days. On training and testing days, the supplement will be consumed approximately 60 minutes before the main training session or testing procedure. On non-training days, it will be consumed at a consistent morning time. | Dietary supplement | Taurine Plus Caffeine |
| Taurine, Caffeine, and PhosphatidylserineTaurine 1500 mg/day plus caffeine 200 mg/day plus phosphatidylserine 600 mg/day administered for 28 days. On training and testing days, the supplement will be consumed approximately 60 minutes before the main training session or testing procedure. On non-training days, it will be consumed at a consistent morning time. | Dietary supplement | Taurine, Caffeine, and Phosphatidylserine |
Primary outcome
Tactical Inhibitory Decision Accuracy Under Neurocognitive Load
Time frame: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Tactical inhibitory decision accuracy will be assessed using football-specific video clips requiring inhibition of an immediately attractive but suboptimal tactical action. Responses will be scored as 1 point for an optimal decision, 0.5 points for an acceptable decision, and 0 points for an incorrect decision. The outcome will be calculated as the mean score across inhibitory tactical clips. The score ranges from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating better tactical inhibitory decision accuracy.
10 secondary outcomes
Overall Football-Specific Optimal Decision Rate
Time frame: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Football-Specific Decision Time
Time frame: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Impulsive Tactical Error Rate
Time frame: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Stroop/Flanker Time-on-Task Reaction-Time Trajectory
Time frame: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Stroop/Flanker Reaction-Time Variability
Time frame: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Post-Task Mental Fatigue
Time frame: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Time to First Fixation on the Optimal Tactical Area of Interest
Time frame: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Dwell Time on the Optimal Tactical Area of Interest
Time frame: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Situational-Awareness Accuracy
Time frame: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Reactive Passing Decision-Selection Accuracy
Time frame: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. No individual participant data will be shared because the study includes a small sample of professional football players from a limited number of clubs, which may increase the risk of indirect participant identification. Only aggregated and anonymized study results will be reported.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Taurine Plus Caffeine and Taurine, Caffeine, and Phosphatidylserine in people with Mental Fatigue and Cognitive Performance, run by Vizja University in Warsaw at 2 sites in Poland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Poland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Tactical Inhibitory Decision Accuracy Under Neurocognitive Load (time frame: Baseline and 28 days of supplementation). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Sep 2026.