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Effects of Supplementation in Masters Athletes and Older Adults: A Narrative Review

A summary of earlier studies · Current sports medicine reports · Jul 1, 2026

What this means

Supplementation use in athletes is common and increasing in popularity, especially for adults seeking improvements in athletic performance. However, the effects of supplementation for older adults or Masters athletes in improving athletic performance or musculoskeletal health are less well explored.

A plain-English summary is on its way. Until then, this is the start of the authors' own summary.

Tested inSummary of earlier studies
Who it was tested in
People
Kind of research
A summary of earlier studies

The science

Original title
Effects of Supplementation in Masters Athletes and Older Adults: A Narrative Review.
Authors
Nguyen C, Allen MR, Hornburg K et al.
Journal
Current sports medicine reports
Published
Jul 1, 2026
Study type
Review · in humans

Abstract

Supplementation use in athletes is common and increasing in popularity, especially for adults seeking improvements in athletic performance. However, the effects of supplementation for older adults or Masters athletes in improving athletic performance or musculoskeletal health are less well explored. The aim of this narrative review is to explore common supplements, namely protein, caffeine, creatine, beta-alanine, nitrates, and peptides, including collagen, body protection compound-157, and thymosin-beta 4 and 500, in improving performance or musculoskeletal health in Masters athletes and adults over 55 years of age.

Read it on PubMed ↗

Nguyen C, Allen MR, Hornburg K et al. Effects of Supplementation in Masters Athletes and Older Adults: A Narrative Review. Current sports medicine reports. 2026. doi:10.1249/JSR.0000000000001353. PMID: 42385164. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42385164/

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