CHAMGAP
APPROVEDReviewed and approved by the Chamgap Editorial Team (2026-07-16). The draft was written by AI, the existence of all 3 cited sources was verified at the original page, and the verdict passed blind grading and adversarial audit. Methodology v0.6.
Verdict No. 372 · Search date 2026-07-16 · Methodology v0.6

Methylliberine,
does it really help with Caffeine-free alertness, focus, and exercise energy?

30-Second Summary
C
Evidence Grade C · 40 · Safety unknown
Standalone subjective experience, objective cognition, combination trials, and safety were separated
What the
research shows
The standalone human efficacy literature is not zero. In a 25-person crossover trial, Dynamine® 100 mg improved some subjective ratings of energy, concentration, motivation, and mood but did not improve objective Stroop or TMT-B cognition. Exercise and tactical-performance trials combined it with caffeine and theacrine and cannot isolate methylliberine. Human efficacy literature exists, but small manufacturer-funded, subjective-endpoint evidence warrants low C.
What the
ads claim
Products describe methylliberine as a caffeine-free stimulant, yet it is often sold with caffeine, theacrine, or other pre-workout ingredients. Experience with a combination is not proof of standalone efficacy, tolerance, or safety.
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Useful facts when choosing a product

  • Overseas single-ingredient capsules and the standalone efficacy trial commonly use 100 mg.
  • In Korea it is more readily encountered through overseas purchasing and multi-ingredient sports products than as a widely recognized standalone functional-health ingredient.
  • Methylliberine can reduce caffeine clearance and extend caffeine half-life when coadministered.
  • Marker-based safety data extend to about four weeks; long-term use, tolerance, dependence, pregnancy, lactation, and cardiovascular-disease data are insufficient.
Gap Measurement · Verdict 372 · C 40
What advertising claims
What independent, higher-quality research supports
△ GAP
01

What the research actually shows

The La Monica 2023 double-blind crossover trial gave 25 participants 100 mg for four days. Some subjective ratings were better at selected time points, but Stroop and TMT-B did not significantly change. The Cintineo 2022 trial in 48 tactical personnel compared 150 mg caffeine plus 100 mg methylliberine plus 50 mg theacrine with 300 mg caffeine and placebo; reaction time improved, while marksmanship and decision accuracy did not. A 125-person four-week study assessed safety rather than efficacy.

02

Why this is classified as C (40)

A standalone human trial exists, so the grade is not unknown. It is one manufacturer-funded 25-person study with partial subjective benefits and null objective cognition, while combination studies cannot isolate the ingredient. This supports C with 40 points.

Counterpoint. A large independent standalone RCT should evaluate objective vigilance, attention, exercise performance, caffeine comparison, tolerance, and long-term safety.

Rejudgment record. Reassessment (cross-check reflected) — Recognized the caffeine-free standalone trial but retained C for Compound Solutions support, selected subjective VAS benefits, null objective Stroop and TMT-B, and non-attributable combination trials

Sub-claim grades by effect

This ingredient is marketed for several effects. A single overall grade blends strong and weak claims together, so each effect is graded separately here. The overall grade reflects the strongest disconfirming or core claim.

Effect (sub-claim)GradeBasis
Subjective alertness, energy, and concentrationCPartial positive findings in one 25-person manufacturer-funded standalone crossover trial
Objective attention and cognitive performanceCNull Stroop and TMT-B in one small trial; not repeated large-trial refutation
Standalone exercise energy and performance?Identified performance trials combined methylliberine with caffeine and theacrine

Cross-check — Codex and Claude

This verdict was drafted by Codex through literature review and source-existence checks, cross-checked through blind grading and adversarial audit, and settled by reapplying the methodology boundary rules. Cases with split grades were resolved through rejudgment.
03

Evidence Table

StudyDesignSampleFundingEndpointResultWeight
La Monica et al. (2023)Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled crossover trial25Sponsored by Compound SolutionsVAS energy, concentration, and mood; Stroop; TMT-BSome subjective improvements; no objective cognitive benefitKey
Cintineo et al. (2022)Randomized placebo-controlled parallel trial48Compound Solutions provided study productsVigilance, marksmanship, reaction time, and blood pressureThe combination improved reaction time but not marksmanship or accuracySupportive
VanDusseldorp et al. (2020)Four-week randomized safety trial125Sponsored by Compound SolutionsCardiovascular, hematologic, and chemistry markersNo major marker abnormalities with 100-150 mg over four weeks; not an efficacy trialSafety
§

Receipt — 3 References

All 3 cited sources were verified for existence at the original page (as of 2026-07-16).

La Monica MB, Raub B, Malone K, et al. Methylliberine Ingestion Improves Various Indices of Affect but Not Cognitive Function in Healthy Men and Women. Nutrients. 2023;15(21):4509. PMID: 37960163. DOI: 10.3390/nu15214509.
checked
Cintineo HP, Bello ML, Chandler AJ, et al. Effects of caffeine, methylliberine, and theacrine on vigilance, marksmanship, and hemodynamic responses in tactical personnel: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2022;19(1):543-564. PMID: 36016763. DOI: 10.1080/15502783.2022.2113339.
checked
VanDusseldorp TA, Stratton MT, Bailly AR, et al. Safety of Short-Term Supplementation with Methylliberine (Dynamine®) Alone and in Combination with TeaCrine® in Young Adults. Nutrients. 2020;12(3):654. PMID: 32121218. DOI: 10.3390/nu12030654.
checked
Draft and rewrite: Codex (AI) · Verification: Codex blind grading and adversarial audit · Final adjudication: Claude
Reviewed and approved: Chamgap Editorial Team · Approval date: 2026-07-16 · Corrections: none

Cite this verdict

Methylliberine (Dynamine®) x caffeine-free alertness, focus, and exercise energy Evidence Grade C card
[Chamgap] Methylliberine (Dynamine®) x caffeine-free alertness, focus, and exercise energy — Evidence Grade C·40. 3 cited sources checked. Source: https://chamgap.com/en/verdicts/energy/methylliberine-dynamine-alertness-focus-energy/ · CC BY 4.0

CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution; do not distort grades, numbers, or verdict meaning.

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What this document does and does not do

Chamgap is an information source. It reports what research has and has not confirmed; it does not tell readers what to take or buy. That decision belongs to readers and, when needed, medical or legal professionals. This verdict reflects literature available up to the search date and may change as new research appears. Nothing here is medical advice.