Caffeine and Anaerobic Performance

Abstract

The effect caffeine elicits on endurance performance is well founded. However, comparatively less research has been conducted on the ergogenic potential of anaerobic performance. Some studies showing no effect of caffeine on performance used untrained subjects and designs often not conducive to observing an ergogenic effect. Recent studies incorporating trained subjects and paradigms specific to intermittent sports activity support the notion that caffeine is ergogenic to an extent with anaerobic exercise. Caffeine seems highly ergogenic for speed endurance exercise ranging in duration from 60 to 180 seconds. However, other traditional models examining power output (i.e. 30-second Wingate test) have shown minimal effect of caffeine on performance. Conversely, studies employing sport-specific methodologies (i.e. hockey, rugby, soccer) with shorter duration (i.e. 4-6 seconds) show caffeine to be ergogenic during high-intensity intermittent exercise. Recent studies show caffeine affects isometric maximal force and offers introductory evidence for enhanced muscle endurance for lower body musculature. However, isokinetic peak torque, one-repetition maximum and muscular endurance for upper body musculature are less clear. Since relatively few studies exist with resistance training, a definite conclusion cannot be reached on the extent caffeine affects performance. It was previously thought that caffeine mechanisms were associated with adrenaline (epinephrine)-induced enhanced free-fatty acid oxidation and consequent glycogen sparing, which is the leading hypothesis for the ergogenic effect. It would seem unlikely that the proposed theory would result in improved anaerobic performance, since exercise is dominated by oxygen-independent metabolic pathways. Other mechanisms for caffeine have been suggested, such as enhanced calcium mobilization and phosphodiesterase inhibition. However, a normal physiological dose of caffeine in vivo does not indicate this mechanism plays a large role. Additionally, enhanced Na+/K+ pump activity has been proposed to potentially enhance excitation contraction coupling with caffeine. A more favourable hypothesis seems to be that caffeine stimulates the CNS. Caffeine acts antagonistically on adenosine receptors, thereby inhibiting the negative effects adenosine induces on neurotransmission, arousal and pain perception. The hypoalgesic effects of caffeine have resulted in dampened pain perception and blunted perceived exertion during exercise. This could potentially have favourable effects on negating decreased firing rates of motor units and possibly produce a more sustainable and forceful muscle contraction. The exact mechanisms behind caffeine's action remain to be elucidated.

The effects of different doses of caffeine on performance, rating of perceived exertion and pain perception in teenagers female karate athletes

“…Multiple mechanisms might be responsible for reduce RPE in exercise. Caffeine increases the activation of the sympathetic central nervous system through adenosine receptor antagonism (Davis, Green, 2009) thus, caffeine is in blocking the inhibitory properties of endogenous adenosine (particularly at A 1 and A 2A receptors), resulting in increased behaviors related to dopamine, norepinephrine and glutamate release (Brunyé et al, 2010;Lorist, Tops, 2003). Adenosine inhibits the release of most excitatory neurotransmitters in the brain, particularly dopamine, and might reduce dopamine synthesis (Woolf, Bidwell, Carlson, 2008).…”

“…Caffeine by facilitate neuromuscular function at the level of the sarcoplasmic reticulum via release calcium (Ca) on sarcoplasmic reticulum (Davis, Green, 2009;Machado et al, 2010) and caffeine's direct antagonism of adenosine receptors (widely present in human tissue including the brain, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue) (Tarnopolsky, 2010) on the skeletal muscle membrane to enhance excitation-contraction coupling via a greater release of Ca from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and or facilitating Na/k ATPase pump activity (Hendrix et al, 2010). Also, adenosine antagonism in adipocytes clearly leads to increased lipolysis and an increase in plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration (Glaister et al, 2014;Tarnopolsky, 2010).…”

“…Also, carbohydrate availability does not limit functions during exercise less than one hour as completed, so caffeine may not alter RPE during activities in which glycogen depletion does not occur (Astorino, Roupoli, Valdivieso, 2012). Additionally, habitual intake caffeine, the type of muscle actions performed and moreover the 0-10 RPE scale may lack adequate sensitivity to detect small alterations in perception during activity (Astorino, Roupoli, Valdivieso, 2012).Caffeine by facilitate neuromuscular function at the level of the sarcoplasmic reticulum via release calcium (Ca) on sarcoplasmic reticulum (Davis, Green, 2009;Machado et al, 2010) and caffeine's direct antagonism of adenosine receptors (widely present in human tissue including the brain, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue) (Tarnopolsky, 2010) on the skeletal muscle membrane to enhance excitation-contraction coupling via a greater release of Ca from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and or facilitating Na/k ATPase pump activity (Hendrix et al, 2010). Also, adenosine antagonism in adipocytes clearly leads to increased lipolysis and an increase in plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration (Glaister et al, 2014;Tarnopolsky, 2010).…”

“…Also, adenosine antagonism in adipocytes clearly leads to increased lipolysis and an increase in plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration (Glaister et al, 2014;Tarnopolsky, 2010). Additionally, compared with fast twitch fibers, caffeine may have a greater sensitivity for affecting slow twitch muscle fibers and slow twitch sarcoplasmic reticulum (Davis, Green, 2009). Caffeine increase intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (c-AMP) by phosphodiesterase inhibition (Tarnopolsky, 2010).…”

Efeitos da cafeína na performance de exercícios de endurance

“…16 Foi relatado em um estudo que em modelos tradicionais, cujo foco é examinar a potência, foi encontrado um efeito mínimo da cafeína como ergogênico e que, em metodologias mais específicas, com menor duração e maior explosão, como em exercícios de alta intensidade e intermitentes, há uma melhor resposta da cafeína no desempenho atlético. 17 Contrapondo-se a esses resultados, em uma pesquisa com ciclistas treinados, submetidos a duas sessões experimentais, com ingestão aleatória de cafeína na mesma dosagem utilizada no presente estudo, uma hora antes do teste, não houve melhora no desempenho anaeróbio intermitente. Além disso, demonstrou redução na potência média nos indivíduos sob uso de cafeína, podendo sugerir ser desvantajoso seu uso durante esforços máximos intermitentes.…”