Calcium lactate and sprint performance in young soccer players
What it found
In 15 soccer players under 15, taking calcium lactate before exercise made 20-metre sprints and repeated sprint running worse.
It made no difference to jumping or change of direction.
What they found
Studies in people
Jumping and agility
There were no significant differences between conditions for squat jump, countermovement jump, or change of direction.
20-m sprint
Performance in the 20-m linear sprint was worse in both the placebo and lactate conditions compared with control.
Repeated sprint running
The lactate condition worsened peak power, mean power, and fatigue index in the running anaerobic sprint test compared with control and placebo.
Minimum power
There were no significant differences between conditions for minimum power in the running anaerobic sprint test.
What the authors conclude
“Calcium lactate supplementation worsened repetitive running sprint ability and 20-m sprint performance.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that calcium lactate supplementation worsened repetitive running sprint ability and 20-m sprint performance.
- They state that lactate supplementation does not affect jump or agility capacity.
- They say calcium lactate supplementation seems to be an ineffective strategy to improve anaerobic and neuromuscular performance in soccer players 15 years of age or less.
How it was done
The authors wanted to find out what a single dose of lactate supplementation does to athletic performance.
Fifteen athletes under the age of 15 did four sessions in a nonrandomized order: familiarization, control, calcium lactate (21.5 mg per kg of body mass), and a placebo of calcium carbonate (21.5 mg per kg of body mass). The capsules were randomly offered and taken 60 minutes before physical tests. The tests were squat jump, countermovement squat jump, 20-m linear sprint, change of direction, and a running anaerobic sprint test.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a small study of 15 athletes under 15, so the results may not apply to other ages or groups.
- The sessions were done in a nonrandomized order, which can affect how the results are interpreted.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom
The paper
- Title
- Acute Response of Calcium Lactate Supplementation on the Athletic Performance of Soccer Players Under the Age of 15
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Azevedo H, Azevedo V, Padilha D, et al (2024). Acute Response of Calcium Lactate Supplementation on the Athletic Performance of Soccer Players Under the Age of 15. Pediatric exercise science. doi:10.1123/pes.2023-0155PubMed 39244191DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error