BackgroundTo investigate the effects of a caffeine-containing energy drink on soccer performance during a simulated game. A second purpose was to assess the post-exercise urine caffeine concentration derived from the energy drink intake.Methodology/Principal FindingsNineteen semiprofessional soccer players ingested 630±52 mL of a commercially available energy drink (sugar-free Red Bull®) to provide 3 mg of caffeine per kg of body mass, or a decaffeinated control drink (0 mg/kg). After sixty minutes they performed a 15-s maximal jump test, a repeated sprint test (7×30 m; 30 s of active recovery) and played a simulated soccer game. Individual running distance and speed during the game were measured using global positioning satellite (GPS) devices. In comparison to the control drink, the ingestion of the energy drink increased mean jump height in the jump test (34.7±4.7 v 35.8±5.5 cm; P<0.05), mean running speed during the sprint test (25.6±2.1 v 26.3±1.8 km · h−1; P<0.05) and total distance covered at a speed higher than 13 km · h−1 during the game (1205±289 v 1436±326 m; P<0.05). In addition, the energy drink increased the number of sprints during the whole game (30±10 v 24±8; P<0.05). Post-exercise urine caffeine concentration was higher after the energy drink than after the control drink (4.1±1.0 v 0.1±0.1 µg · mL−1; P<0.05).Conclusions/significanceA caffeine-containing energy drink in a dose equivalent to 3 mg/kg increased the ability to repeatedly sprint and the distance covered at high intensity during a simulated soccer game. In addition, the caffeinated energy drink increased jump height which may represent a meaningful improvement for headers or when players are competing for a ball.

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To determine if athletes' muscle mass affects the usefulness of urine specific gravity (U(sg)) as a hydration index. Nine rugby players and nine endurance runners differing in the amount of muscle mass (42 +/- 6 vs. 32 +/- 3 kg, respectively; P = 0.0002) were recruited. At waking during six consecutive days, urine was collected for U (sg) analysis, urine osmolality (U(osm)), electrolytes (U[Na+], U[K+] and U[Cl-]) and protein metabolites (U([Creatinine]), U([Urea]) and U([Uric acid])) concentrations. In addition, fasting blood serum osmolality (S(osm)) was measured on the sixth day. As averaged during 6 days, U(sg) (1.021 +/- 0.002 vs. 1.016 +/- 0.001), U(osm) (702 +/- 56 vs. 554 +/- 41 mOsmol kg(-1) H(2)O), U([Urea]) (405 +/- 36 vs. 302 +/- 23 mmol L(-1)) and U([Uric acid]) (2.7 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.2 mmol L(-1)) were higher in rugby players than runners (P < 0.05). However, urine electrolyte concentrations were not different between groups. A higher percentage of rugby players than runners (56 vs. 11%; P = 0.03) could be cataloged as hypohydrated by U(sg) (i.e., >1.020) despite S (osm) being below 290 mOsmol kg(-1) H(2)O in all participants. A positive correlation was found between muscle mass and urine protein metabolites (r = 0.47; P = 0.04) and between urine protein metabolites and U(sg) (r = 0.92; P < 0.0001). In summary, U(sg) specificity to detect hypohydration was reduced in athletes with large muscle mass. Our data suggest that athletes with large muscle mass (i.e., rugby players) are prone to be incorrectly classified as hypohydrated based on U(sg).

Aspects of team players' performance are negatively affected when  2% body mass is lost by perspiration. Although such dehydration is likely reached during summer practice in outdoors sports, it is unclear if such dehydration is achieved during the practice of indoor sports. We assessed the fluid and electrolyte deficits of elite team players during practice for the following indoor sports: indoor soccer (n 09), basketball (n 011), volleyball (n 010), and handball (n 013). Morning hydration status was estimated by measuring urine specific gravity. Sweat rate was calculated from body mass changes and fluid intake. Sweat sodium concentration from the forearm was used to estimate whole-body sodium losses. Over 91% of the players were moderately hypohydrated (urine specific gravity !1.020) at waking 3 h before practice. Indoor soccer players sweated at a higher rate (1.8 litres × h (1 ) than volleyball and handball players (1.2 and 1.1 litres × h (1 , respectively; P B 0.05), whereas sweat rate was not different between basketball players (1.5 litres × h (1 ) and the other team sport players (P !0.05). In average, 62913% of sweat losses were replaced and teams' body mass loss did not exceed 1.290.3%. Sodium losses were similar among teams, averaging 1.290.2 g. The exercise fluid replacement habits of professional indoor team players are adequate to prevent 2% dehydration. However, most players could benefit from increasing fluid intake between workouts to offset the high prevalence of morning hypohydration.

Combining metformin and exercise is recommended for the treatment of insulin resistance. However, it has been suggested that metformin blunts the insulin-sensitizing effects of exercise. We evaluated in a group of insulin-resistant patients the interactions between exercise and their daily dose of metformin. Ten insulin-resistant patients underwent insulin sensitivity assessment using intravenous glucose tolerance test after an overnight fast in the following conditions: (1) after taking their habitual morning dose of metformin (MET), (2) after 45 min of high intensity interval exercise having withheld metformin during 24 h (EX), and (3) after their habitual metformin dose plus an identical exercise bout (MET + EX). During the exercise trials (EX and MET + EX), energy expenditure and substrate oxidation were assessed by indirect calorimetry. In addition, 12-h postprandial blood glucose was measured in all three trials. Insulin sensitivity was similar between MET and EX [4.0 ± 0.8 and 4.1 ± 0.7 × 10(-4) min(-1) (μU mL)(-1); P = 0.953] but was 43 % higher than both MET and EX after MET + EX (NS; P = 0.081). Blood glucose disappearance rate was higher after MET + EX than after MET or EX trials (1.7 ± 0.2, 1.0 ± 0.1, and 1.2 ± 0.1 % min(-1), respectively; P = 0.020). There was no difference in postprandial blood glucose concentration after the three meals that followed the trials (P = 0.446). Exercise energy expenditure was 9 % higher during MET + EX than during EX (P = 0.015) partly due to increased carbohydrate oxidation. Our data suggest that habitual metformin treatment in insulin-resistant patients does not blunt the acute insulin-sensitizing effects of a single bout of exercise that on the contrary, tends to enhance it.