Caffeine Supplementation Had No Effect on Endurance Capacity in Elderly Subjects Who Had Abstained from Caffeine-Containing Nutrition for 8 Hours

Abstract

Background: In this study, we investigated the effect of acute caffeine ingestion on physical performance after only 8 hours of caffeine abstinence. Methods: The study was a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study and included 30 healthy subject aged ‡ 70 years who had been recruited by their general practitioner. The participants abstained from caffeine for 8 hours (overnight) and the next morning they received placebo and then caffeine (6 mg/kg), or caffeine and then placebo at an interval of 1 week. One hour after the intervention we measured cycling endurance (ergometer), perceived effort during cycling (Borg scale), postural stability (force platform), and maximal isometric arm flexion strength and endurance (dynamometer chair). Blood samples were taken before the intervention, before cycling, after 5 minutes of cycling, and at exhaustion. Results: The participants had a usual coffee intake of six cups/day and after 8 hours of caffeine abstinence the plasma concentration of caffeine was 4.1 lM. Caffeine supplementation almost 10-fold increased the caffeine concentration and increased the lactate, epinephrine, and free fatty acid concentrations. However, caffeine supplementation did not significantly change the primary end point of cycling endurance, which was À10.6% (95% confidence interval: À22.7% to 3.3%, p = 0.123) during caffeine supplementation as compared with placebo. Further, caffeine supplementation did not change significantly the perceived effort during cycling ( p = 0.084), maximal muscular strength ( p = 0.516), or isometric submaximal endurance ( p = 0.340). Caffeine increased postural sway. Conclusions: In habitual coffee drinkers abstaining from caffeine for 8 hours, caffeine supplementation did not improve physical performance, but impaired postural stability.

The effect of caffeine ingestion on functional performance in older adults

“…In agreement with the work of Norager et al (15), endurance was also significantly improved (21.4%), however there was no effect of caffeine supplementation on reaction time and cognition. A later study by Jensen et al (17) adds further ambiguity after reporting that a 6mg*kg -1 caffeine supplement did not significantly improve maximal arm flexion strength and isometric submaximal endurance in subjects aged over 70. Furthermore, Jensen et al's study (17) indicated that there was no effect of caffeine on cycling endurance or RPE when compared to placebo.…”

“…A later study by Jensen et al (17) adds further ambiguity after reporting that a 6mg*kg -1 caffeine supplement did not significantly improve maximal arm flexion strength and isometric submaximal endurance in subjects aged over 70. Furthermore, Jensen et al's study (17) indicated that there was no effect of caffeine on cycling endurance or RPE when compared to placebo. The use of RPE in prior studies is also worthy of further consideration.…”

The Effect of Caffeine in Patients with Intermittent Claudication Was Independent of the Degree of Peripheral Ischemia—A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Whether the effect should be the same following a shorter interval without their usual intake of coffee and tea is not known, and the literature is indeterminate in this respect. [9][10][11][12] Furthermore, we did not distinguish between patients that underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and open surgical reconstruction, even though these groups might have differed in disease severity; we do not know the importance of this. Additionally, the effect of caffeine seemed to be different in different age groups.…”

The effect of acute caffeine ingestion on coincidence anticipation timing in younger and older adults

“…In other studies, both higher and lower doses of caffeine have been shown to be ergogenic in various cognitive and attentional tasks. [3][4][5][6] Comparing any dose-response relationships of caffeine on timing performance would therefore be useful in future research, especially in older adults. Also, the participants in the present study were moderate caffeine users, who abstained from caffeine ingestion for 48 hours prior to engaging in the experimental procedures.…”

“…Of those that have examined older adults, some have reported no improvements in measures of cognitive or attentional performance. 3,4 Conversely, others have reported improvements in cognitive/attentional performance in older adults following caffeine ingestion. 5,6 These studies 5,6 have subsequently suggested that older adults are more susceptible to the performance-enhancing effects of caffeine than younger adults.…”