by Chris Shugart
Ingredients powering pro gamers aren't just for esports. They boost focus and stress resilience for performance seekers.
I found myself watching a screen. On that screen was a group of young men watching other screens. Most were wearing football jerseys, but they didn't look like linebackers. Turns out, these were esports professional gamers playing Madden, and one of them walked away with $250,000.
Gaming is definitely a power competition, and where there's competition, there are ways of gaining a competitive edge.
The Gamer Ingredients
- University‑level esports players using Alpha-GPC show less physiological stress. They felt calmer under pressure and recovered faster after intense rounds. They also made more correct responses in working memory tests, which benefits rapid information processing, critical for games where players track multiple opponents and maps simultaneously.
- Citrulline malate increase cerebral blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the brain. For gamers, this delays fatigue in long sessions by improving circulation and clearing ammonia.
- Citrulline nitrate has similar effects, but also helps with eye strain and visual processing through improved retinal circulation.
- Betaine supports mental endurance during long play by maintaining cellular energy balance. It's not an acute stimulant, but it helps with mental resilience and fatigue resistance.
- L-Tyrosine is the amino acid precursor to dopamine and noradrenaline. For esports, strong evidence shows that it supports focus under stress and helps with fatigue and sleep deprivation.
- Uridine monophosphate keeps dopamine receptors working optimally, and supports brain plasticity and mitochondrial function. For gamers, combining it with Alpha-GPC offers synergistic cognitive enhancement. Both help with mood regulation. Pro-gamers want to avoid "tilt" – a state of frustration that negatively impacts gameplay. When a player gets upset after mistakes, bad luck, or an opponent’s actions, it leads to bad decision-making, impulsivity, and more mistakes. That's tilt. Uridine monophosphate keeps gamers in control.
Biotest Igniter contains everything above, minus the L-theanine. Instead, it contains beta-alanine, which doesn't do much for gamers unless they have excess lactic acid buildup in their thumbs. (It's great for lifters and athletes, though.)
We didn't make Igniter specifically for gamers or esports "athletes," but it would certainly give them a competitive advantage.
