A caffeinated energy drink improves jump performance in adolescent basketball players

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the effects of a commercially available energy drink on shooting precision, jump performance and endurance capacity in young basketball players. Sixteen young basketball players (first division of a junior national league; 14.9 ± 0.8 years; 73.4 ± 12.4 kg; 182.3 ± 6.5 cm) volunteered to participate in the research. They ingested either (a) an energy drink that contained 3 mg of caffeine per kg of body weight or (b) a placebo energy drink with the same appearance and taste. After 60 min for caffeine absorption, they performed free throw shooting and three-point shooting tests. After that, participants performed a maximal countermovement jump (CMJ), a repeated maximal jumps test for 15 s (RJ-15), and the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1). Urine samples were obtained before and 30 min after testing. In comparison to the placebo, the ingestion of the caffeinated energy drink did not affect precision during the free throws (Caffeine = 70.7 ± 11.8 % vs placebo = 70.3 ± 11.0 %; P = 0.45), the three-point shooting test (39.9 ± 11.8 vs 38.1 ± 12.8 %; P = 0.33) or the distance covered in the Yo-Yo IR1 (2,000 ± 706 vs 1,925 ± 702 m; P = 0.19). However, the energy drink significantly increased jump height during the CMJ (38.3 ± 4.4 vs 37.5 ± 4.4 cm; P < 0.05) mean jump height during the RJ-15 (30.2 ± 3.6 vs 28.8 ± 3.4 cm; P < 0.05) and the excretion of urinary caffeine (1.2 ± 0.7 vs 0.1 ± 0.1 μg/mL; P < 0.05). The intake of a caffeine-containing energy drink (3 mg/kg body weight) increased jump performance although it did not affect basketball shooting precision.

Caffeinated Energy Drinks Improve Volleyball Performance in Elite Female Players

“…Even though no discomforts were reported during testing or during the simulated game, the participants reported an increase in nervousness and activeness in the hours after the experimental trials, as previously found in other investigations with male athletes (1,13). Although the most recurrent side effect after the ingestion of caffeinated energy drinks in female athletes has been insomnia (11,20), this effect was not found in this investigation despite the trials being carried out in the afternoon.…”

“…Caffeine has been proven effective to improve jump height in soccer (8,14,20), basketball (1), and rugby players (11). Moreover, the ingestion of a caffeinated drink has been effective to increase jump performance in male volleyball players (10).…”

Effects of energy drinks on blood pressure, heart rate, and electrocardiographic parameters: An experimental study on healthy young adults

“…Although few of these claims have been partly demonstrated in a few athlete-targeted surveys (2, 3), many more health concerns are increasingly unfolded about the excessive consumption of energy drinks. Consequences such as epilepsy, mania, stroke, and even sudden death have all been potentially associated with such beverages (4-6).…”

Ergogenic Aids and Supplements

“…It is documented that the intake of a sugar-free caffeine-containing energy drink (3 mg/kg) is able to enhance sport performances in soccer, rugby, basketball, and badminton players. The improvements were related to jump height, power output, distance covered, running speed, and the number of sprints performed within a game [39][40][41][42][43][44] . In a recent position statement, the ISSN concluded that the consumption of energy drinks (containing approximately 2 mg/kg body weight of caffeine) 45-60 min prior to anaerobic/resistance exercise may improve upper-and lower-body total lifting volume.…”