Combined L-carnosine and L-tyrosine supplementation as an ergogenic strategy for physical and cognitive performance under fatigue in professional football players.

Bilgin S, Bozyılan E, Buzdağlı Y, Karaç Öcal Y, Gürkan O, Toktaş S, İnan H, Egil İ, Yarayan YE

Frontiers in nutrition17 Aug 2026

PMID42676602PMCIDPMC13526940DOI10.3389/fnut.2026.1868802PepBankPUB-42676602

Summary

Background/objectivesFootball performance depends on the integration of high-intensity neuromuscular output with rapid decision-making and executive control. Although L-carnosine (L-CAR) and L-tyrosine (L-TYR) have independently demonstrated ergogenic and neurocognitive benefits, evidence regarding their combined effects on both physical and cognitive performance under post-exercise fatigue in football-specific contexts remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of L-CAR, L-TYR, and their combined supplementation on physical and cognitive performance following high-intensity exercise in professional football players.MethodsTwenty-four male professionals completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving four conditions (L-CAR, L-TYR, L-CAR+L-TYR, placebo). After supplementation, participants completed a Wingate-based fatigue protocol to assess anaerobic performance (peak power, mean power), followed by sprint tests (10-30 m; sprint time), an agility assessment (completion time), and football-specific passing accuracy tasks (execution time and accuracy). Executive function was evaluated using the Stroop test, including reaction time and error rates under neutral, congruent, and incongruent conditions.ResultsL-CAR significantly enhanced anaerobic power and agility, whereas L-TYR primarily improved cognitive performance. The combined condition produced the most pronounced effects, increasing peak power by ~17% and average power by ~16% versus placebo, reducing sprint and agility times by ~7-13%, and shortening incongruent Stroop reaction time by ~15%. Perceived exertion was lower with combined supplementation, while blood lactate concentrations did not differ significantly between conditions.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study8

2 results from studies that gave the peptide. 2 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In professional male football players, L‑carnosine significantly enhanced anaerobic power.
In plain wordsIn professional male football players, L‑carnosine significantly increased anaerobic power.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
IncreaseAnaerobic power
Study
n = 24
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
L-CAR significantly enhanced anaerobic power and agility, whereas L-TYR primarily improved cognitive performance.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty-four male professionals completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving four conditions (L-CAR, L-TYR, L-CAR+L-TYR, placebo).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4267660201
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In professional male football players, L‑carnosine significantly enhanced agility.
In plain wordsIn professional male football players, L‑carnosine significantly improved agility.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
IncreaseAgility
Study
n = 24
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
L-CAR significantly enhanced anaerobic power and agility, whereas L-TYR primarily improved cognitive performance.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty-four male professionals completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving four conditions (L-CAR, L-TYR, L-CAR+L-TYR, placebo).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4267660202

Studies that did not test the peptide alone6

In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking L-carnosine.

03HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In professional football players, combined L‑carnosine and L-tyrosine increased peak power by ~17% versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn professional football players, combined L‑carnosine and L-tyrosine increased peak power by ~17% versus placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
IncreasePeak power
Study
n = 24
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
Measurements
Increase in peak power
≈ 17%
combined L-CAR + L-TYR versus placebo
Source sentences
Summary
The combined condition produced the most pronounced effects, increasing peak power by ~17% and average power by ~16% versus placebo, reducing sprint and agility times by ~7-13%, and shortening incongruent Stroop reaction time by ~15%.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty-four male professionals completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving four conditions (L-CAR, L-TYR, L-CAR+L-TYR, placebo).
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4267660203
04HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In professional football players, combined L‑carnosine and L-tyrosine increased average power by ~16% versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn professional football players, combined L‑carnosine and L-tyrosine increased average power by ~16% versus placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
IncreaseAverage power
Study
n = 24
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
Measurements
Increase in average power
≈ 16%
combined L-CAR + L-TYR versus placebo
Source sentences
Summary
The combined condition produced the most pronounced effects, increasing peak power by ~17% and average power by ~16% versus placebo, reducing sprint and agility times by ~7-13%, and shortening incongruent Stroop reaction time by ~15%.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty-four male professionals completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving four conditions (L-CAR, L-TYR, L-CAR+L-TYR, placebo).
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4267660204
05HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In professional football players, combined L‑carnosine and L-tyrosine reduced sprint time by about 7-13% versus placebo (one range reported jointly for sprint and agility times).
In plain wordsIn professional football players, combined L‑carnosine and L-tyrosine reduced sprint time versus placebo. One 7-13% range covers sprint and agility times.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
DecreaseSprint time
Study
n = 24
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
Measurements
Reduction in sprint time
7 to 13%
combined L-CAR + L-TYR versus placebo (range reported jointly for sprint and agility times)
Source sentences
Summary
The combined condition produced the most pronounced effects, increasing peak power by ~17% and average power by ~16% versus placebo, reducing sprint and agility times by ~7-13%, and shortening incongruent Stroop reaction time by ~15%.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty-four male professionals completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving four conditions (L-CAR, L-TYR, L-CAR+L-TYR, placebo).
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4267660205
06HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In professional football players, combined L‑carnosine and L-tyrosine reduced agility time by about 7-13% versus placebo (one range reported jointly for sprint and agility times).
In plain wordsIn professional football players, combined L‑carnosine and L-tyrosine reduced agility time versus placebo. One 7-13% range covers sprint and agility times.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
DecreaseAgility time
Study
n = 24
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
Measurements
Reduction in agility time
7 to 13%
combined L-CAR + L-TYR versus placebo (range reported jointly for sprint and agility times)
Source sentences
Summary
The combined condition produced the most pronounced effects, increasing peak power by ~17% and average power by ~16% versus placebo, reducing sprint and agility times by ~7-13%, and shortening incongruent Stroop reaction time by ~15%.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty-four male professionals completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving four conditions (L-CAR, L-TYR, L-CAR+L-TYR, placebo).
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4267660206
07HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In professional football players, combined L‑carnosine and L-tyrosine shortened incongruent Stroop reaction time by ~15% versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn professional football players, combined L‑carnosine and L-tyrosine shortened incongruent Stroop reaction time by ~15% versus placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
DecreaseIncongruent Stroop reaction time
Study
n = 24
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Measurements
Reduction in incongruent Stroop reaction time
≈ 15%
combined L-CAR + L-TYR versus placebo
Source sentences
Summary
The combined condition produced the most pronounced effects, increasing peak power by ~17% and average power by ~16% versus placebo, reducing sprint and agility times by ~7-13%, and shortening incongruent Stroop reaction time by ~15%.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty-four male professionals completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving four conditions (L-CAR, L-TYR, L-CAR+L-TYR, placebo).
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4267660207
08HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In professional football players, perceived exertion was lower with combined L‑carnosine and L-tyrosine supplementation.
In plain wordsIn professional football players, perceived exertion was lower with combined L‑carnosine and L-tyrosine supplementation.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
DecreasePerceived exertion
Study
n = 24
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
Source sentences
Summary
Perceived exertion was lower with combined supplementation, while blood lactate concentrations did not differ significantly between conditions.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty-four male professionals completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving four conditions (L-CAR, L-TYR, L-CAR+L-TYR, placebo).
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4267660208

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
27 Oct 2026, 18:20 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
27 Oct 2026, 16:32 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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