Author Identifier
Date of Award
2026
Keywords
taurine, thermoregulations, cycling, performance, heat, environmental physiology, extreme heat
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Edith Cowan University
Degree Name
Master of Medical and Health Science by Research
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
First Supervisor
Chris Abbiss
Second Supervisor
Ken Nosaka
Abstract
The detrimental effects of environmental heat on endurance performance are well-documented; however, the efficacy of taurine as a thermoregulatory or ergogenic aid during self-paced exercise remains unclear. Taurine was focused on due to its role as a compatible organic osmolyte and its ability to enhance muscle contractility through improved sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium handling, which are physiological processes typically compromised by thermal stress. This study investigated the effects of taurine supplementation versus a placebo on 20-km self-paced cycling performance, physiological strain, and perceptual responses in the heat. It was hypothesised that taurine may enhance evaporative heat loss via increased sweat gland activity, thereby reducing thermal strain and improving 20-km time-trial performance. Ten trained cyclists participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study. Participants consumed either 50 mg·kg⁻¹·day⁻¹ of taurine or a maltodextrin (placebo) for four consecutive days before the 20-km cycling. On the fourth day, participants performed a 20-km time trial in hot conditions (31.5 ± 0.5 °C; 40 ± 3% relative humidity) with convective airflow (20 km·h⁻¹). No significant differences were observed between conditions for 20-km completion time, mean power output, rectal temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, thermal sensation, or rating of perceived exertion. Completion time was not significantly different (p = 0.24) between the placebo condition (34.8 ± 2.4 min) and the taurine condition (35.6 ± 2.1 min), corresponding to a mean speed of 34.48 ± 2.04 km·h⁻¹and 33.67 ± 2.21 km·h⁻¹, respectively. Physiological markers were comparable between trials; peak rectal temperature reached 38.8 ± 0.5 °C for the placebo and 38.7 ± 0.4 °C for the taurine condition, with no significant between-condition difference. Thermal sensation and rating of perceived exertion increased as a function of exercise duration, but no significant differences were found between the conditions for exertion (16.2 ± 1.4 vs. 16.1 ± 1.5) or thermal sensation (6.2 ± 0.4 vs. 6.1 ± 0.5). These results did not support the hypothesis and suggested that the short-term taurine supplementation was not more effective for enhancing performance or reducing thermal strain in trained cyclists during a 20-km time trial in the heat.
Access Note
Access to this thesis is embargoed until 12th February 2028
Recommended Citation
Naddafha, S. (2026). Effect of taurine supplementation on 20-km self-paced cycling performance in the heat. Edith Cowan University. https://doi.org/10.25958/0d0s-mn39