Caffeinated chewing gum increases repeated sprint performance and augments increases in testosterone in competitive cyclists

Abstract

This investigation reports the effects of caffeinated chewing gum on fatigue and hormone response during repeated sprint performance with competitive cyclists. Nine male cyclists (mean ± SD, age 24 ± 7 years, VO(2max) 62.5 ± 5.4 mL kg(-1) min(-1)) completed four high-intensity experimental sessions, consisting of four sets of 30 s sprints (5 sprints each set). Caffeine (240 mg) or placebo was administered via chewing gum following the second set of each experimental session. Testosterone and cortisol concentrations were assayed in saliva samples collected at rest and after each set of sprints. Mean power output in the first 10 sprints relative to the last 10 sprints declined by 5.8 ± 4.0% in the placebo and 0.4 ± 7.7% in the caffeine trials, respectively. The reduced fatigue in the caffeine trials equated to a 5.4% (90% confidence limit ±3.6%, effect size 0.25; ±0.16) performance enhancement in favour of caffeine. Salivary testosterone increased rapidly from rest (~53%) and prior to treatments in all trials. Following caffeine treatment, testosterone increased by a further 12 ± 14% (ES 0.50; ± 0.56) relative to the placebo condition. In contrast, cortisol concentrations were not elevated until after the third exercise set; following the caffeine treatment cortisol was reduced by 21 ± 31% (ES -0.30; ± 0.34) relative to placebo. The acute ingestion of caffeine via chewing gum attenuated fatigue during repeated, high-intensity sprint exercise in competitive cyclists. Furthermore, the delayed fatigue was associated with substantially elevated testosterone concentrations and decreased cortisol in the caffeine trials.

Caffeine’s effect on intermittent sprint cycling performance with different rest intervals

“…Stuart et al (2005) employed the work to rest ratio (1:4.5) to a rugby game simulation, with the rugby players performing seven circuits in 2 9 40-min with a 10-min rest interval at half-time; the results revealed that caffeine significantly improved the sprint speed/power in the first half, but reduced the sprint power in the second half. Furthermore, Paton et al (2010) reported that cyclists completed a set of 5 9 30 s with 30-s recovery intervals (work:rest ratio = 1: 1); the data show reduced fatigue in the caffeine trial, but no improvement in repeated sprint performance. Based on these findings, it is likely that the work and recovery duration play a crucial role in caffeine's ergogenic effects on intermittent sprint performance.…”

Effects of red bull energy drink on repeated sprint performance in women athletes

“…However, high doses frequently elicit side effects including anxiety and tremor, and this vehicle of caffeine intake is typically impractical to the athlete that typically does not have access to pure caffeine. In this case, use of caffeine-containing energy drinks or chewing gum containing lower doses of caffeine (1-3 mg/kg body weight) is more practical due to their availability, minimal side effects, and low cost (Paton et al 2010). In fact, over 40% of young, elite British athletes reported energy drinks as the most widely used supplement (Petroczi et al 2008).…”

Effects of caffeine chewing gum on race performance and physiology in male and female cyclists

“…Therefore, it is possible that caffeinated gum may prove beneficial in sporting events where athletes wish to mitigate the effects of accumulated fatigue and provide a rapid increase in performance such as at half-time during a football match or when preparing for a sprint finish in an endurance event. Indeed, a study by Paton, Lowe, and Irvine (2010), has reported that chewing caffeinated gum (~3 mg · kg −1 ) allowed trained cyclists to rapidly offset fatigue and maintain exercise intensity during multiple repeated efforts of highintensity sprint activity. Similarly, caffeinated chewing gum has also been shown to enhance longer duration steady state endurance performance with trained cyclists when administered just 5 min immediately prior to exercise (Ryan et al, 2013).…”