Best Nootropics for Athletes in 2025

Coaches love to say things like, "Mind over matter," or "The first muscle to quit is your mind," with the expectation that it'll help athletes and runners mentally overcome their physical discomforts.

And there's plenty of truth to these cliché phrases, which is why cognitive enhancement is just as important as physical enhancement to serious athletes.

• Nootropics for athletes may help physically active competitors and exercisers overcome the mental barriers preventing them from realizing their full athletic potential.

This guide covers not only the key mental aspects of athleticism but also how nootropics may improve the mind-body connection for better motivation, energy, focus, endurance, and, ultimately, physical prowess.

Key Takeaways

• By enhancing various cognitive functions related to peak physical performance, nootropics can help athletes to achieve their personal best.
• Nootropics that support cognitive performance can improve focus, mental clarity, and reaction time, which are essential for athletes in high-intensity training, bodybuilding or competition.
• Certain ingredients help reduce mental fatigue and stress, allowing athletes to maintain sharp focus and endurance during long training sessions or competitions.
• Some nootropics boost memory, helping athletes retain new skills, techniques, and strategies more effectively over time.
• Nootropics that enhance mood can help athletes stay positive and motivated, even when facing challenges or setbacks, which is crucial for maintaining consistent performance.
• Certain compounds improve communication between the brain and body, optimizing motor skills, coordination, and reaction time, leading to better athletic performance.

Best Nootropics for Athletic Performance in 2025

Mind Lab Pro®: As a "Universal Nootropic," MLP is excellent for athletics because it enhances many different cognitive functions that drive peak physical performance: Motivation, focus, concentration, mental energy and more. Learn more about how Mind Lab Pro works

Pre Lab Pro®: Best nootropic pre-workout. Supplies moderate dose of athletics-tuned caffeine, sports nutrients and nootropics to unlock mind-over-matter performance. Energy, endurance, focus, motivation, intensity and more, in a great-tasting berry-flavored drink mix. Learn more about Pre Lab Pro

Caffeine 2: Best caffeine pill. Enhanced with nootropics that help caffeine to work better, it produces a clean surge of mental energy and alertness without the jitters and crashes associated with typical stimulant formulas. A smarter caffeine for students and professionals. Learn more about Caffeine 2

Related Post: Nootropics for Martial Arts - Mind Over Matter for Hand-to-Hand Combat

How Can Nootropics Improve Athletic Performance?

Can nootropics improve athletic performance? Even if they're primary function is to improve cognitive performance?

The answer is yes, considering the deep, mental aspects involved in competitive sport. After all, for many athletes, the mind games prior to game-day are just as important as the actual physical functions involved in executing plays and scoring points.

Not all nootropics may assist with athletic performance. Yet, the best nootropics may work by enhancing the following cognitive benefits:

Energy and Stamina

Without sufficient sleep and energy levels, athletes simply cannot perform. Underlying all competitive physical and cognitive processes is a well-stocked reserve of cellular energy to execute and maintain athletic functions. Stimulants may offer a quick-fix of amped-up energy, yet they often work by compromising long-term health and performance. Plus, many effective stimulants are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for competitive use.

Effective nootropics, on the other hand, improve energy and stamina by naturally enhancing the brain and body's natural energy synthesis pathways. By improving cellular energy (ATP) production and increasing circulatory oxygen flow, nootropics may legally and safely improving athletic stamina while also promoting a healthy anabolic metabolism.

Motivation and Intensity

Every athlete and exerciser experiences low motivation and "going through the motions" stagnation with their workouts every now and then. While poor motivation may be due to any number of psychological factors, nootropics may assist with the neurochemical pathways to motivation;establishing the cognitive foundation for high-intensity training.

Whether due to brain burnout or nutrient deficiency, nootropics may improve motivation by:

• Increasing catecholamine activity- catecholamine neurotransmitters (dopamine, norepinephrine) play a key role in sustaining mood and motivation.
• Enhancing energy efficiency- related to the previous section, energy boosting nootropics may help ward off brain burnout and fatigue for better, ongoing mood levels.

Dedication and discipline contribute to a finely tuned athlete. Yet, neither are possible without motivation.

Attention and Multitasking

High-octane team sports require exceptional levels of attention and multitasking, as athletes must mentally process their roles and moves in relation to other players' roles and locations. To pull this off, athletes practice their moves until they become unconsciously ingrained into their performance; otherwise, they throw themselves off by over-analyzing each movement.

By strengthening their cognitive capacity fortask-related information processing;(or working memory), athletes may better focus on their respective roles without internal and external distractions.

Stress Management

Even in the absence of psychological stress, athletes may experience physical stress as a result of their intense training. The two common forms of stress that negatively impact athletic health include:

• Stress hormone cortisol;- triggered by the HPA axis, stress hormone cortisol increases "fight-or-flight" bio-activities, yet may pose significant health risks when chronically activated.
• Oxidative stress - another term for free radical damage, oxidative stress plays a significant role in age-related deterioration.

Adaptogen and antioxidant nootropics may help improve an athlete's stress levels by regulating the stress hormone response and decreasing the negative impact of oxidative stress.

No pain, no gain -- a necessary requirement of athletic fortitude is an exceptional degree of physical stress.

Are Nootropics Legal?

For the most part, yes, nootropics are legal. Natural nootropics that naturally enhance cognition are generally fair game for athletes to use as performance enhancers. Lab-synthesized stimulants, on the other hand, especially those barred by prescription, are generally banned for competitive use. Even reasonably safe stimulants, such as phenylpiracetam, may trigger a positive drug test.

If you're a competing athlete worried about Mind Lab Pro® nootropics safety or legal status, worry not: these nootropics work upon natural, healthy, legalbio-pathways. However, if you have any concerns about the legal status of a certain cognitive enhancer, check with your league's substance policies and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which publishes annual banned substance lists. More on Nootropic Legality.

Nootropics for Athletes

Rhodiola Rosea

By tackling stress and fatigue, Rhodiola works as a performance enhancer for both brain and body.

Nothing affects mental and physical performance quite like stress. This applies even to non-subjective forms of stress, such as when intensely motivated athletes overwork their bodies to their breaking points. For these athletes, hormonal stress and oxidative stress negatively impact their health and performance, even in the absence of subjective stress. By reducing excess stress hormone cortisol levels, Rhodiola rosea may significantly enhance and protect athletic performance against the harmful effects of high-intensity training.^<1)

In a placebo-controlled study on Rhodiola's effects on stress-related fatigue^<2):

• Researchers found a standardized extract of Rhodiola effective at enhancing cognitive performance while decreasing the cortisol stress response. Their conclusion: "repeated administration of exerts an anti-fatigue effect that increases mental performance, particularly the ability to concentrate, and decreases cortisol response to awakening stress in burnout patients with fatigue syndrome."

However, even subjectively, Rhodiola rosea supplementation may improve mood and "perceptions of arousal and pleasure" for exercising athletes, as demonstrated by a placebo-controlled study performed on active men.^{<3) This combination of subjective mood boosts and hormonal stress reduction may help athletes maintain the physical stamina demanded by their unquenchable motivation.}

More on Mind Lab Pro® Rhodiola Rosea.

Ignites intensity during exercise and replenishes mood and focus after an intense workout.

As a natural precursor to catecholamine neurotransmitters, N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine plays a key role in sustaining cognitive alertness and clarity under conditions of high stress and activity. Remember that catecholamines (e.g., dopamine, norepinephrine) facilitate positive mood and focus, and so when stress-related activities deplete your catecholamine levels, so, too, does your cognitive performance drop off.

Athletic feats that require heightened levels of attention, awareness, and multi-task processing, even in the face of environmental distractions and bodily discomfort, may improve by L-tyrosine supplementation, as demonstrated by the following studies:

• Study - L-tyrosine improves cognitive function and blood pressure under high-stress conditions effected by loud noise (90 dB).^<4)
• Study - L-tyrosine improves working memory (task-related processing) under multi-tasking conditions, which otherwise impair cognitive performance.^<5)
• Study - L-tyrosine helps counteract performance decrements related to extended wakefulness (sleep deprivation) and fatigue.^<6)

For athletes, particularly sleep-deprived college athletes, supplementing L-tyrosine may work as a sort of "clutch performance" enhancer. While athletic opponents tire out, losing their focus and composure late in the match, L-tyrosine keeps your cognitive performance fresh from start to finish.

Because L-tyrosine replenishes catecholamines depleted by excess activity, you may supplement this nootropic amino acid both as a pre- and post-workout ingredient.

More on Mind Lab Pro® N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine.

Citicoline (CDP Choline)

One part choline and one part cytidine, citicoline enhances brainpower and the cholinergic connection between mind and muscle.

As opposed to other more straightforward cholinergic nootropics, Citicoline offers a brain healthy supply of choline in addition to brain boosting cytidine. Individually, these two compounds work by:

• Choline - converts to phosphatidylcholine and acetylcholine, the brain chemical associated with memory, learning, and neuromuscular function.
• Cytidine - converts to uridine, the nucleotide associated with enhanced synaptic plasticity and natural ATP energy production.

Remember that within the contact point between nervous tissue and muscle tissue, the neuromuscular junction transfers nervous signals to muscle tissue to signal for muscular contraction. The signalling compound released from nerves: acetylcholine.^<7)

By supplying raw choline for acetylcholine synthesis, citicoline may not only enhance the cholinergic pathways of the brain (thereby improving memory, learning, and high-order cognitive processes) but also the neuromuscular function for better muscular performance. Likewise, by supplying raw cytidine for enhanced brain energy production (via an increase in uridine), citicoline may improve cognitive performance measures related to enhanced energy production and synaptic plasticity.

More on Mind Lab Pro® Citicoline.

L-Theanine (+ Caffeine)

While not a true nootropic, caffeine may possess performance enhancing benefits when coupled with L-theanine.

Sourced from green tea leaves, L-Theanine is a popular, relaxing amino acid with unique calming effects that simultaneously boost focus while reducing anxiety. Unlike other anxiolytic compounds, L-theanine calms without sedating the mind to the point of cognitive impairment. Rather, the compound actually seems to increase focus, even when not stacked with a stimulant, such as caffeine^<8):

• One report suggests that L-theanine "has a significant effect on the general state of mental alertness or arousal."

However, when paired with caffeine, the duo seems to enhance cognitive performance beyond what each compound may accomplish on their own. As one study observed^<9):

• The combination of L-theanine and caffeine seems to help "focus attention during a demanding cognitive task" at a roughly 2:1 ratio of L-theanine to caffeine.

Not all athletes favor caffeine as a pre-workout compound, and for good reason. Caffeine is not a genuine cognitive enhancing nootropic. Although, it's hard to deny the reliable energy boosts that follow a quick jolt of caffeine. And pairing caffeine with L-theanine may help limit the stimulant's jittery side effects while sustaining its boosts on energy and focus.

More on Mind Lab Pro® L-Theanine.

B Vitamins

Often supplemented for mood boosts, B vitamins support hundreds of metabolic pathways across the brain and body.

B vitamins, namely Vitamin B6, play a key role in athletic health, hence vitamin B6's contribution to ZMA, a popular sports nutrition aid comprised of zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B6.

As a nootropic, vitamin B6 helps synthesize catecholaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmitters, balancing mood and heart rate. For physical activity, B vitamins' role in converting food to glucose, a simple energy fuel source ready for ATP energy conversion, may help increase exercise stamina for better workouts. Likewise, B vitamins' roles in mood-related brain chemical synthesis may help sustain mood and motivation for better exercise and game-day intensity.

Vitamin B6, in particular, seems to improve the body's sensitivity to certain genetic expressions related skeletal muscle growth, thereby improving anabolic muscle building and repair.^<10)

While rare, B vitamin-deficiency poses great performance impairing risks to athletes that may be easily avoided by supplementing a well-rounded B vitamin complex. Not to mention that B vitamins co-facilitate the catecholaminergic synthesis pathways involving L-tyrosine, as listed above.

More on Mind Lab Pro® Vitamin B6.

More on Mind Lab Pro® Vitamin B9.

More on Mind Lab Pro® Vitamin B12.

Best Nootropics for Athletic Performance in 2025: Top Stacks

Pre Lab Pro®

Pre Lab Pro® The "world's smartest pre-workout nutrition", it is designed for sharp cognitive function as well as improved physical strength, power, endurance, energy and more.

The Pre Lab Pro® formula: Red Beetroot Powder, 1500 mg Setria® Performance Blend, 2200 mg Natural Caffeine, 80 mg L-Theanine, 160 mg L-Tyrosine, 400 mg NutriGenesis® vitamins & minerals Vitamin D3, 500 iu Potassium, 49.5 mg Iron, 2.5 mg Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 500 mcg Vitamin B6, 750 MCG Folate (Vitamin B9), 167 mcg DFE Vitamin B12, 2 MCG Himalayan Pink Salt, 500 mg

Pre Lab Pro® is the perfect supplement for athletes because it combines traditional sports nutrients with advanced brain boosting nootropics. It works via a nitric oxide rush from beetroot and Setria that boosts blood flow to brain and muscles for workout intensity, endurance and strength.

It also supplies a moderate (80 mg) dose of caffeine plus sport nutrients, nootropics and hydration enhancers for an overall gym boost.

Pre Lab Pro® benefits for athletes:

• Enhances endurance, strength, power, stamina and speed
• Promotes focus, clarity, intensity and calmness during workouts
• Clean energy: 80 mg caffeine + 100 mg theanine = no jitters or crashes
• Stress support to help you stay balanced before, during and after your workout

Pre Lab Pro® is ideal for athletes seeking a clean-label nootropic pre-workout. If you want a mind-body boost in the gym, balanced stimulation, and the convenience of a powder that mixes into a pre-workout drink, this supplement is for you.

Buy Pre Lab Pro Now

Mind Lab Pro®

Mind Lab Pro® (MLP®) is a straight-up nootropic brain-booster that happens to supply great support for all types of athletes.

The MLP Formula: Citicoline (CDP Choline) dosage 250mg per serving, Phosphatidylserine (PS) 100mg (from sunflower lecithin), Bacopa monnieri 150mg (24% bacosides, 9 bioactives), Organic Lion's Mane Mushroom 500mg (fruit and mycelium), Maritime Pine Bark Extract 75mg (Standardized to 95% proanthocyanidins), N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine 175mg, L-Theanine 100mg per serving, Rhodiola rosea 50mg (Standardized to 3% rosavins and 1% salidrosides), NutriGenesis® Vitamin B6 (2.5 mg), Vitamin B9 (100 mcg), Vitamin B12 (7.5 mcg)

MLP® is designed as a universal nootropic that flexes to meet the cognitive demands you are facing -- including the specific demands for athletes.

Mind Lab Pro® benefits for athletes:

• Sharp mental focus for endurance sport and gym performance
• Mental and physical energy for bodybuilding and weightlifting
• Calm, clear-minded alertness that helps with competition and endurance events
• Supports motivation, drive and mood to help you stay dialed in
• Promotes stress resistance; boosts performance during exertion and distraction
• Supports overall long-range brain health

Mind Lab Pro is backed by human research.

This formula is also a top choice for 2025 because it is one of the very few nootropics that have been validated by well-designed human research. Researchers have reported that MLP supplementation appears to improve information processing and all types of memory.(11,12)

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Performance Lab® Caffeine 2

Caffeine is one of the most effective and popular nootropics for athletes. Performance Lab Caffeine 2 takes caffeine to the next level. This ultramodern formula tunes caffeine for athletic performance, yielding cleaner, calmer stimulation for your workout, game or competition.

Caffeine 2 ingredients list: Caffeine 50 mg; L-Theanine 100 mg; NutriGenesis® Caffeine Balance B-Complex: 500mcg Riboflavin, 50mcg Vitamin B6, 167mcg Folate, 2mcg Vitamin B12 50 mg; 250mg L-Tyrosine

Caffeine 2 benefits

• Designed to maximize caffeine performance benefits while minimizing side effects and crashes
• Balances caffeine energy with relaxation, creativity and clarity
• Helps with intensity, drive, motivation and mood in the gym

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Summary

Mind Lab Pro® supplies some of the best nootropics for athletes, optimizing the mind-body connection for better health and performance.

Athletes need sharp minds to execute impressive athletic feats. While not traditionally viewed as sports nutrition supplements, nootropics can help sharpen minds to highly competitive levels.

• Mind Lab Pro® nootropics may help with various aspects of competitive cognition, making it a strong choice for all types of athletes.

Whether you play hockey or chess, Mind Lab Pro® helps boost cognitive function required of all competitive thinking. Energy, intensity, attention, stress resistance, and many more cognitive pathways that affect athleticism improve with a smart nootropic stack.

Mind Lab Pro®, Pre Lab Pro® and Caffeine 2 are all Performance Lab® Quality.