Independent Study with the New Zealand All Blacks Reveals Groundbreaking Performance Gains with Carnosine-Based Gel

Why the All Blacks study matters

The All Blacks are more than just a rugby team; they are a global benchmark for athleticism, resilience, and dominance. Recruiting this level of athlete into a research study is almost unheard of. Typically, elite teams and athletes are reluctant to participate in experimental protocols due to training demands and competitive priorities. Their involvement alone underscores the importance of this work.

Equally important is the study design. This trial was conducted with the highest scientific rigor: triple-blind allocation, placebo control, and validated testing methodology. In sports science, such a combination is rare, making the findings especially compelling.

The Wingate test: pushing athletes to the limit

At the heart of the study was the Wingate anaerobic cycling test, widely regarded as the gold standard for measuring anaerobic power and capacity. A single 30-second Wingate sprint is brutal—enough to leave elite athletes cramping or even collapsing.

While most studies use just one Wingate sprint, or at most three or four, this trial demanded 12 consecutive Wingate sprints with a simulated halftime break to mimic the intensity and structure of a rugby match. The design represented one of the most demanding repeat-sprint protocols ever applied in elite sport.

Results that defy expectations

The outcomes were striking:

• Every athlete improved. In all 12 sprints, peak power output was higher in the carnosine condition compared with placebo.

• Over 100 watts gained. Across 84 total sprints, athletes produced on average more than 100 additional watts per sprint.

• Post-halftime surge. After the simulated halftime, the difference widened to approximately 143 watts.

• 4–11.5% improvement. Gains ranged from +4% to +11.5%, compared to the highest previously documented repeat-sprint improvements of ~3% in the literature.

• Extraordinary effect sizes. 90% of sprints showed medium to large effect sizes, with several reaching 0.98–0.99—essentially the statistical ceiling.

• Rapid onset. Benefits appeared within 45 minutes of a single application, bypassing the need for long loading phases common with oral supplementation.

A challenge to conventional supplementation

The results were also contextualized against oral beta-alanine, a supplement often used to raise muscle carnosine. Beta-alanine typically requires 6–12 weeks of consistent dosing, carries a high non-responder rate, and is associated with side effects such as paresthesia (pins-and-needles sensations).

By contrast, the transdermal approach demonstrated measurable benefits in less than an hour—with no requirement for loading and without the drawbacks associated with oral intake.

Why elite results matter for everyone

One of the most significant aspects of this study is that it was conducted in Olympic-level athletes already operating near their genetic limits. Detecting performance changes in such individuals is notoriously difficult. Yet here, improvements of up to 11.5% were observed.

For the average recreational athlete, these effects could be magnified. Gains seen in elite performers often translate into even greater relative improvements in non-elite populations, where there is more room to improve. In practical terms, this suggests potential benefits not only for world-class competitors but also for everyday athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and those seeking better recovery between bouts of activity.

Broader implications beyond sport

While this particular trial focused on rugby athletes, the physiological mechanisms involved—enhanced buffering, improved anaerobic capacity, and faster recovery between sprints—apply broadly to many sports, including football, basketball, hockey, and other intermittent high-intensity disciplines.

Moreover, carnosine itself has been studied for decades in contexts beyond athletics, including insulin resistance, arthritis, neurocognitive function, and fatigue management. Historically, poor delivery methods limited these findings. A transdermal approach that demonstrates such strong uptake in performance testing may open doors for further exploration in health and wellness research.

A rare achievement in sports science

This study stands out not only for its findings but also for its uniqueness within the scientific landscape:

1. Prestigious population. The All Blacks are among the most accomplished teams in sport, making them one of the most exclusive and high-performing groups ever studied.

2. Methodological rigor. Triple-blind allocation and placebo control ensured objectivity, while the 12-sprint Wingate protocol pushed the boundaries of what athletes could endure.

3. Unprecedented outcomes. Immediate, repeatable, and statistically powerful improvements were observed, challenging prior assumptions about what is possible in elite athletic performance.

Conclusion

The independent trial with the New Zealand All Blacks provides some of the most compelling evidence to date for the impact of carnosine-based transdermal delivery. Observing rapid, double-digit performance gains in athletes at the very top of their sport is virtually unprecedented.

For sports scientists, coaches, and athletes alike, these results highlight the potential of new delivery systems to unlock performance benefits previously thought out of reach. Beyond athletics, the findings signal opportunities for further research into how carnosine may influence broader aspects of human health and recovery.

When a team as dominant as the All Blacks demonstrates this level of improvement under rigorous scientific testing, the results are difficult to ignore.

Watch this video with the Chief Science Officer in Lactigo where he discusses the future in Carnosine Research as more people become aware of the massive potential.

Click here for the a link to the full study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

Click here to find out more about LactiGo and how to buy it