title: The dose-response relationship between pseudoephedrine ingestion and exercise performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to examine a possible dose-response between pre-exercise pseudoephedrine intake and cycling time trial performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised, double-blind, crossover trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten trained male endurance cyclists (26.5 ± 6.2 years, 75.1 ± 5.9 kg, 70.6 ± 6.8 mL kg(-1)min(-1)) undertook three cycling time trials in which a fixed amount of work (7 kJ kg(-1) body mass) was completed in the shortest possible time. Sixty minutes before the start of exercise, subjects orally ingested either 2.3 mg kg(-1) or 2.8 mg kg(-1) body mass of pseudoephedrine or a placebo in a randomised and double-blind manner. Venous blood was sampled at baseline, pre- and post-warm up and post-exercise for the analysis of pH and lactate and glucose concentrations; plasma catecholamine and pseudoephedrine concentrations were measured at all times except post-warm up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cycling time trial performance (∼ 30 min) was not enhanced by pseudoephedrine ingestion. Plasma pseudoephedrine concentration increased from pre-warm up to post-exercise in both treatment conditions, with the 2.8 mg kg(-1) body mass dose producing the highest concentration at both time points (2.8 mg kg(-1)>2.3 mg kg(-1)>placebo; p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was large individual variation in plasma pseudoephedrine concentration between subjects following pseudoephedrine administration. A number of factors clearly influence the uptake and appearance of pseudoephedrine in the blood and these are not yet fully understood. Combined with subsequent differences in plasma pseudoephedrine between individuals, this may partially explain the present findings and also the inconsistencies in performance following pseudoephedrine administration in previous studies.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: pritchardkellie@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kellie R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Pritchard-Peschek
authors.affiliation: School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Athlete and Coach Support Services, Queensland Academy of Sport, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.affiliation: The School of Health and Sport Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Dennis R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Taaffe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D054199:Pseudoephedrine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054199:Pseudoephedrine
keywords: Cycling time-trial; Ergogenic aid; Plasma concentration; Pseudoephedrine