Meldonium and human sport performance: a narrative review evaluating the evidence for ergogenic potential
Christer Malm, Michael Svensson · 2026
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Description
Christer Malm and Michael Svensson review whether meldonium, the drug at the center of famous doping cases, truly improves athletic performance. Their 2026 narrative review examines its chemistry, movement through the body, safety, and the quality of human performance studies. The drug blocks carnitine production, shifting muscles toward burning glucose, which uses oxygen more efficiently.
Despite wide use and a place on the anti-doping prohibited list since 2016, rigorous placebo-controlled trials in healthy athletes are essentially missing. Existing studies carry high bias risk and design flaws. The ban rested on signs that athletes used it hoping to gain an edge, not on proof that it works. Better trials are needed to settle genuine effects and long-term safety, the authors conclude.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Christer Malm, Michael Svensson |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 46 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |