Caffeine supplementation and peak anaerobic power output

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of caffeine supplementation on peak anaerobic power output (Wmax). Using a counterbalanced, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, 14 well-trained men completed three trials of a protocol consisting of a series of 6-s cycle ergometer sprints, separated by 5-min passive recovery periods. Sprints were performed at progressively increasing torque factors to determine the peak power/torque relationship and Wmax. Apart from Trial 1 (familiarisation), participants ingested a capsule containing 5 mg·kg(-1) of caffeine or placebo, one hour before each trial. The effects of caffeine on blood lactate were investigated using capillary samples taken after each sprint. The torque factor which produced Wmax was not significantly different (p ≥ 0.05) between the caffeine (1.15 ± 0.08 N·m·kg(-1)) and placebo (1.13 ± 0.10 N·m·kg(-1)) trials. There was, however, a significant effect (p < 0.05) of supplementation on Wmax, with caffeine producing a higher value (1885 ± 303 W) than placebo (1835 ± 290 W). Analysis of the blood lactate data revealed a significant (p < 0.05) torque factor × supplement interaction with values being significantly higher from the sixth sprint (torque factor 1.0 N·m·kg(-1)) onwards following caffeine supplementation. The results of this study confirm previous reports that caffeine supplementation significantly increases blood lactate and Wmax. These findings may explain why the majority of previous studies, which have used fixed-torque factors of around 0.75 N·m·kg(-1) and thereby failing to elicit Wmax, have failed to find an effect of caffeine on sprinting performance.

Dietary Caffeine and Polyphenol Supplementation Enhances Overall Metabolic Rate and Lipid Oxidation at Rest and After a Bout of Sprint Interval Exercise

“…Although subjects exhibited improved fatigue resistance during the initial sprint interval with caffeine-polyphenol supplementation, the results from an inclusive perspective fail to offer any compelling evidence reflective of its ergogenic value. The absence of detectable performance benefits, especially during anaerobic sprint exercise and caffeine consumption, corroborates a number of previous reports (6,9,14,18,37,38) but disagrees with some others (2,12,13). Commensurate with the mixed outcomes across previous studies is the equivocal rationale for these differential results.…”

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

“…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).…”

“…The subjects in a study were male students of strength and conditioning and sport science and trained competitive male athletes; the performance task was cycle ergometer sprints, and 30 s Wingate test was conducted (Glaister et al, 2014;Woolf, Bidwell, Carlson, 2008). It seems that caffeine consumption in events that heavily rely on the glycolytic system (15 s to 3 min) has no positive impact on performance (possibly because of increase in plasma ammonia levels and decrease in intracellular pH) (Greer, McLean, Graham, 1998;Sökmen et al, 2008).…”

“…Two studies suggested that caffeine supplementation (5 mg/kg) 1 h before exercise significantly increases power output (Glaister et al, 2014;Woolf, Bidwell, Carlson, 2008). The subjects in a study were male students of strength and conditioning and sport science and trained competitive male athletes; the performance task was cycle ergometer sprints, and 30 s Wingate test was conducted (Glaister et al, 2014;Woolf, Bidwell, Carlson, 2008).…”

Effect Of Serial Caffeine Mouth Rinse On Wingate Anaerobic Performance

“…al, that the peak power increase with caffeine intake has been directly proportionate to the magnitude of applied resistance. He stated that in anaerobic sprint protocols conducted with low torque factors, the effects of caffeine intake on neural drive has not increased the anaerobic performance since the maximal pedaling speed, which were restricted by motor control mechanisms, was reached, yet in anaerobic sprint tests, in which high torque factors are applied, the maximal pedaling speed were not reached and it could show the effect of caffeine on neural drive (Glaister et al, 2015). Glaister et al has stated that in 1.2 N.m/kg torque factor, it increased the power output of caffeine.…”