Research article summary (published 30 Jul 2009):

Effect of caffeine as an ergogenic aid during anaerobic exercise performance in caffeine naïve collegiate football players.

Full Abstract

Research suggests that caffeine may improve performance in aerobic exercise; the evidence for anaerobic performance is mixed. This study examined the effect of caffeine (5 mg/kg body weight [BW]) vs. placebo on performance-based anaerobic exercise tests used during the National Football League (NFL) Combine. Collegiate football athletes (n = 17; 20 +/- 2 yr; body mass index 29.4 +/- 3.6 kg/m) completed 2 study visits, 1 week apart. Participants were low caffeine users with a reported average intake of 16 +/- 20 mg/day. On the day of testing, participants ingested a caffeinated (5 mg/kg BW caffeine + 0.125 g/kg BW carbohydrate) or placebo (0.125 g/kg BW carbohydrate) beverage, ate a light meal, and completed 3 exercise tests (40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, and a bench press) 60 minutes later. Borg's rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded after each exercise test. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were monitored (pre-exercise and postexercise). Data were analyzed using paired t-tests, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and repeated measures analysis of variance. No significant differences were found between treatments for the exercise tests (40-yard dash: 5.01 +/- 0.25 vs. 5.03 +/- 0.26 s, p = 0.43; 20-yard shuttle: 4.64 +/- 0.19 vs. 4.66 +/- 0.24 s, p = 0.51; bench press: 17 +/- 8 vs. 17 +/- 8 reps, p = 0.51; caffeine vs. placebo, respectively). However, 59% of the participants improved in performance with the caffeine during the bench press and the 40-yard dash. No differences were found between treatments for RPE, HR, and BP. Caffeine did not improve performance for anaerobic exercise tests used at the NFL Combine in caffeine naïve male football athletes.

Author information

Author/s: Woolf, Kathleen (K); Bidwell, Wendy K (WK); Carlson, Amanda G (AG);

Affiliation: Nutrition Program, Arizona State University, Polytechnic Campus, Mesa, Arizona, USA. kathleen.woolf(-atsign-)asu.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of strength and conditioning research / National Strength & Conditioning Association (J Strength Cond Res), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 23 (issue 5) : pp 1363-9

Dates: Created 2009/08/05; Completed 2009/11/02;

PMID: 19620930, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/2/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Anaerobic Threshold - drug effects Athletic Performance Blood Pressure Caffeine - administration & dosage Central Nervous System Stimulants - administration & dosage Cross-Over Studies Double-Blind Method

Double-Blind Method Exercise Test Football Heart Rate Humans Male Physical Exertion Young Adult

Associated Chemicals: Central Nervous System Stimulants (0) ; Caffeine (58-08-2)

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