GLOSSARY

High Responder shows a defined favorable response under a tested intervention, with magnitude, criterion and uncertainty needing specification.

Apparent individual responses combine biological variation, measurement error, expectations and changes in training or diet. A person classified as a nonresponder after one noisy test may not have a stable absence of benefit. Use repeated, relevant observations under comparable conditions and consider starting nutrient status or habitual intake. Genetic mechanisms can be informative without making a commercial genetic test a validated prescription. Individualization should improve a practical decision, not turn uncertain differences into permanent athlete labels.

A credible supplement claim needs relevant controlled evidence, an appropriate comparison and a meaningful outcome. Randomization, placebo control and blinding reduce different sources of bias but do not guarantee a useful result. Sample size, uncertainty, training status, sex, diet and protocol affect interpretation. A pooled estimate is not a promise to every individual. Mechanistic plausibility, a changed biomarker, exercise capacity and actual competition performance are distinct levels of information that should not be treated as interchangeable.

Absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination determine how an ingredient reaches circulation and tissues. Plasma concentration does not directly establish muscle uptake or a useful performance effect. Half-life describes a concentration decline under defined conditions, while time to peak describes when a measured maximum occurs. Food, formulation, repeated use and individual physiology affect these processes. A faster or larger blood peak is therefore not automatically evidence that a formulation is better for the athlete's intended task.