Table 3. Pre-post differences on the studied variables in the placebo vs experimental conditions.
| SMD (90%CI) | Chances of being beneficial/trivial/harmful | Qualitative inference | % of change (experimental vs placebo) | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biomechanical parameters | |||||
| Leg stiffness | -0.14 (-0.44, 0.17) | 4/61/36 | Possibly | 2.25 vs 4.64 | 0.310 |
| Physiological parameters | |||||
| RE | 0.36 (-0.5, 1.21) | 63/24/13 | Unclear | 7.07 vs 4.5 | 0.589 |
| VO2Max | 0.04 (-0.87, 0.95) | 37/31/32 | Unclear | 4.41 vs. 3.66 | 1.000 |
| Av_RER | -0.2 (-1.15, 0.74) | 50/27/22 | Unclear | -4.7 vs. -3.6 | 1.000 |
| TEx (s) | 1.18 (-0.14, 2.5) | 90/6/4 | Likely | 8.18 vs 1.6 | 0.310 |
| Av_HR | 0.03 (-0.36, 0.42) | 22/64/15 | Unclear | -0.26 vs. 1.14 | 0.792 |
| SmO2 | 0.72 (0.03, 1.41) | 91/7/2 | Likely | 17.8 vs. -2.64 | 0.167 |
| Psychological parameters | |||||
| RPE | -2.17 (-3.23, -1.1) | 100/0/0 | Very likely | -9.0 vs 20.4 | 0.016 |
Standardized mean differences (SMD) with 90% Confidence Intervals (CI) express the magnitude of the difference on the pre-post changes between the experimental and placebo groups. Positive values reflect higher increments on the placebo group after the supplementation period, while negative scores reflect lower increments on the experimental group after the supplementation period. P is the asymptotic significance of the Mann-Whiteny’s U test.
Abbreviations: RE = running economy; VO2Max = maximal oxygen consumption; Av_RER = average respiratory exchange ratio (whole test); TEx = time to exhaustion; Av_HR = average heart rate (whole test); SmO2 = saturation of muscle O2; RPE = rate of perceived exertion