A recent crossover randomized controlled trial published in the journal Nutrients investigated the effects of paprika xanthophylls (PX) on endurance and cognitive function in 21 healthy college students. Participants took a supplement containing 9 mg of PX daily for one month and were compared against a control condition (no intake). The study found significant improvements in physical endurance for the PX group, including higher exercise efficiency during both incremental (p=0.004) and constant load tests (p=0.030). Heart rate was also significantly lower during both the incremental test (p=0.032) and the constant load test (p=0.020). While there were no significant differences between the groups on cognitive tests, the PX group alone showed significant internal improvements in scores on the Trail Making Test Type B (p=0.034) and the Stroop test interference rate I (p=0.040). The authors speculate these benefits may be due to improved oxygen delivery efficiency.

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"This information is for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice."

"The study discussed was conducted on a small sample of healthy college students and was predominantly male (18 males, 3 females). The authors note the results should be interpreted with caution and may not be generalizable to other populations."

"This study did not use a placebo control group, which is a methodological limitation."

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#PaprikaXanthophyll #EndurancePerformance #CognitiveFunction #ExerciseEfficiency #OxygenDelivery

Kim D, Wadazumi T. Effects of Paprika Xanthophyll Intake on Endurance and Cognitive Function in College Students: A Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2025; 17(17):2780. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17172780

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