Amino acids and pressure in competitive sports

Amino acids and pressure in elite sport

Stress in elite sport is by no means limited to the physical realm. The constant pressure to perform at the highest level subjects athletes to a multitude of stressors that can significantly impact their mental wellbeing (1).

The build-up of negative psychological stress, arising from the feeling of being unable to rise to a challenge, can significantly impair performance (2). This can be particularly noticeable in terms of well-being and performance during competition.

Failing to perform at one’s best in a specific competitive situation is now referred to as ‘choking under pressure’ (3). Alongside effective training preparation, it is therefore equally important to implement stress-management strategies. The topic becomes particularly interesting when it comes to ensuring an adequate supply of nutrients.

A randomised, double-blind study involving amino acids investigated their “effect on psycho-physical performance and the myofascial system in recreational and elite athletes” (4). The amino acids phenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine and taurine were used, as these play a crucial role in brain metabolism and the emotions of athletes (4). In addition, the amino acids arginine, proline, methionine and glycine were used in this study. These amino acids primarily influence the normal function of the myofascial system. Following an 8-week intervention, significantly positive results were observed in the intervention group compared with the placebo group in terms of subjective pain perception. Positive trends were also observed in the general well-being of the intervention group (4). This finding is confirmed by previous studies, which particularly highlighted the positive influence of individualised amino acid supplementation on the parasympathetic nervous system (4). Improved sleep quality, an increased sense of balance and enhanced concentration were observed (4). Nutritional supplementation in elite sport is often focused primarily on improving physical performance. Studies such as this one highlight the potential of nutritional supplementation at a psychological level and will hopefully ensure that this area receives further attention within a scientific context in the future.

1 Sulprizio, M., Kleinert, J., & Belz, J. (2021). Mental health in Germany: Examples of good practice in preventing mental disorders and promoting mental health in elite athletes. In C. H. Larsen, K. Moesch, N. Durand-Bush, & K. Henriksen (Eds.),Mental health in elite sport: Applied perspectives from across the globe (pp. 25–35). New York, NY: Routledge.

2 Beckmann, J., Ehrlenspiel, F. (2016). Strategies for stress regulation in competitive sport. In: Fuchs, R., Gerber, M. (eds) Handbook of Stress Regulation and Sport. Springer Reference Psychology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-49411-0_20-1

3 Moczall, S. (2013). “Choking under Pressure” in Elite Sport: Theory, Empirical Evidence, Intervention(1st ed.). Hamburg: Kovač.

4 Prof. Dr med. Wienecke, E., Herbst, R., (02/2020) “Amino acids”, URL: (sportaerztezeitung.com)Sportaerztezeitung2020_Wienecke_Herbst_Aminosaeuren.pdf (saluto.de)