Is Open-Label Placebo a New Ergogenic Aid? A Commentary on Existing Studies and Guidelines for Future Research

Autor(es)

Saito, Tiemi ^[1] ; Barreto, Gabriel ^[1] ; Saunders, Bryan ^{[2, 1]} ; Gualano, Bruno ^{[1, 3]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med FMUSP, Sch Phys Educ & Sport, Appl Physiol & Nutr Res Grp, Rheumatol Div, Av Dr Arnaldo 455, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med FMUSP, Inst Orthopaed & Traumatol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Food Res Ctr FoRC, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: SPORTS MEDICINE; v. 50, n. 7 APR 2020.
• Citações Web of Science: 1

Resumo

The placebo effect has been defined as a genuine psychobiological response that arises from the belief that a positive intervention has been received. However, the notion that belief in an active treatment is necessary to elicit a placebo effect has been challenged. Recent data show that placebo effects may occur even when individuals are openly informed that they are receiving an inert treatment, the so-called open-label placebo. In fact, clinical studies have shown improvements in disease symptoms in patients who underwent an open-label placebo intervention. Now, the application of open-label placebo is attracting interest among the sports science community. Open-label placebo could be a useful and ethically permitted tool to improve exercise performance when applied in combination with other legal ergogenic aids (e.g., nutritional supplements) and/or in place of illegal substances (e.g., anabolic steroids). However, independent laboratories recently investigated the effects of open-label placebo on exercise performance with contrasting results, suggesting that there is much more research required before widespread implementation of open-label placebo in the field of sport and exercise can be justified. Herein we discuss the emerging science on open-label placebo interventions from a clinical setting to sports science. Moreover, we propose a research agenda for investigations on open-label placebo in sports and exercise sciences by covering the main gaps in the field. Addressing the research agenda put forward will help to advance our understanding of this intriguing topic. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 17/15314-1 - A influência do polimorfismo CYP1A2 sobre as respostas fisiológicas e de desempenho após a suplementação aguda de cafeína
• Beneficiário: Gabriel Henrique Castanho Barreto
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado
• Processo FAPESP: 17/04973-4 - Suplementação nutricional e exercício para otimizar o desempenho: foco nas respostas individuais e um passo para a nutrição esportiva personalizada
• Beneficiário: Bryan Saunders
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Jovens Pesquisadores
• Processo FAPESP: 16/50438-0 - Suplementação nutricional e exercício para otimizar o desempenho: foco nas respostas individuais e um passo para a nutrição esportiva personalizada
• Beneficiário: Bryan Saunders
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Jovens Pesquisadores