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Meldonium and human sport performance: a narrative review evaluating the evidence for ergogenic potential
Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Umeå School of Sport Sciences. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Section of Sports Medicine.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8436-2476
Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Umeå School of Sport Sciences. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Section of Sports Medicine.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4972-4416
2026 (English)In: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, E-ISSN 2624-9367, Vol. 8, article id 1822778Article, review/survey (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Meldonium has attracted considerable attention in sports due to its suggested effects on energy metabolism and high-profile doping cases. This narrative review evaluates Meldonium's biochemical mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, safety profile, and the quality of evidence surrounding its use in athletes. While Western literature categorizes Meldonium as a metabolic modulator, Eastern literature often classifies it as an antihypoxic agent. By inhibiting carnitine biosynthesis, Meldonium shifts substrate utilization from fatty acid oxidation toward more oxygen-efficient glucose metabolism. However, despite its widespread use and inclusion on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list, there remains a profound lack of high-quality, randomized placebo-controlled trials demonstrating consistent ergogenic benefits in healthy athletes. Existing human performance studies exhibit a high risk of bias and methodological flaws. This review provides a critical appraisal of the current literature, highlighting the physiological trade-offs of Meldonium use and emphasizing the need for rigorous clinical trials to determine its genuine impact on athletic performance and long-term safety. This comprehensive review aims to clarify Meldonium's pharmacological profile, inform athlete health considerations, and guide future research into its legitimate clinical and sports applications.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Frontiers Media S.A., 2026. Vol. 8, article id 1822778
Keywords [en]
athletics, doping in sports, energy metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, glucose metabolism, metabolic modulators, mitochondria, sports medicine
National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-258087DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2026.1822778ISI: 001799050000001PubMedID: 42344756Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105044422913OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-258087DiVA, id: diva2:2096224
Available from: 2026-08-28 Created: 2026-08-28 Last updated: 2026-08-28Bibliographically approved

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Malm, Christer B.Svensson, Michael B.

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