Congratulations to Nicole on her PhD defence

Nicole defends PhD on the cardiovascular effects of pre-workout supplements

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Nicole Pinckaers successfully defended her PhD thesis on July 8th, 2026, entitled "Beyond the Boost: Linking Molecular Mechanisms of Phenethylamine and Alkylamine Analogues in Pre-Workout Supplements to Cardiovascular Effects", under the supervision of Frederik-Jan van Schooten and Antoon Opperhuizen, and co supervision of Misha Vrolijk and Matthijs Blankesteijn.

Her research focused on the cardiovascular effects of ingredients commonly found in pre-workout and weight loss supplements. In her thesis, Nicole investigated how these compounds affect the sympathetic nervous system by combining laboratory experiments, computational modelling, and animal studies to better understand their potential health risks.

The findings show that several commonly used supplement ingredients can influence blood pressure, heart rate, and blood vessel function at intake levels comparable to those used by consumers. This work provides important insights for improving the safety assessment of food supplements and supports more evidence-based regulatory decision-making.

Congratulations Nicole on this achievement!

The full thesis is available for download here, and the recording of the defence can be rewatched here.