Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Hannah Still
November 2015
Section 2
Chapter 2 is divided into sections which include (a) a background of caffeine, (b)
rules and regulations of caffeine within athletics, (c) caffeine consumption and
since the 1970s, but most studies on caffeine consumption were carried out from
Background of Caffeine
todays population in hopes to activate the brain and fight of drowsiness. As for
the world of athletics, caffeine usage has always had a high tolerance. Caffeine is
a naturally occurring plant alkaloid that is found in over 60 different plant species,
but is a stimulant that is classified as a drug due to its lack of nutritional value
(Kielser & Armsey, 2006.). Caffeine can be consumed in many different forms
such a coffee, soft drinks, energy drinks, chocolate, as well as over the counter
CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION AND PERFORMANCE IN ELITE ATHLETES
3
(Kielser & Armsey, 2006.). Although there are many different forms of caffeine,
according to Kiesler and Armsey (2006), 75% of caffeine is consumed in the form
of coffee.
As shown in various studies, caffeine based energy drinks are the main
source used for research on sport performance. For instance, the separate studies
performed by Gallo-Salazar (2015) and Del Coso (2013) both used caffeinated
energy drinks for research on caffeine and sport performance. Del Coso also
performed another similar study in 2014 and used a caffeinated energy drink in
used a caffeinated energy drink to study jump performance and activity patterns in
elite badminton players (Abian et al., 2015). While all of these used caffeinated
With the variety of ways to consume caffeine, there are not only benefits,
but effects and risks that should be considered before ingesting. According to
Spriet (2014), high doses of caffeine intake (5-13 mg/kg) before endurance
activities are shown to have ergogenic effects. It was also revealed that high
doses of caffeine before exercise increased heart rates, increased blood lactate
levels, as well as increased blood free fatty acids and glycerol levels. While these
CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION AND PERFORMANCE IN ELITE ATHLETES
4
effects have proved to be true through various studies, research has demonstrated
troubling side effects with high doses of caffeine before sport. Some of these
focus, and disturbed sleeping (Spriet, 2014). In studies where the caffeine dosage
was lowered to a restrained dose of 5-6 mg/kg, all of the ergogenic effects were
maintained, but the side effects still remained. Low doses of caffeine are
considered to be anything that is less than 3mg/kg (Spriet, 2014). Spriet (2014)
acknowledges that low caffeine doses do not alter responses to exercise; improve
alertness or cognitive processes during or after exercise; and are rarely associated
with any side effects, unlike the higher doses of caffeine consumption.
any type of capsule and can appear in the blood anywhere from 5-15 minutes with
peak time being at 40-80 minutes, many studies that are presented usually wait up
Caffeine research in exercise and sport has changed in the past few years
performance, many different scenarios are taking place to test this study. For
instance, these caffeine studies are either tested with endurance based activities or
agility/sprint based activities. These also are varied with many different dosages
caffeine on endurance cycling time trial performance in male athletes. These participants
capsules, 90 minutes before completing the 75% of peak sustainable power output for 60
minutes. Although there was not a huge difference in the two different dosages of
with the higher doses of caffeine treatments compared to the placebo. The ingestion of
improvements for cyclists for up to one hour. Although this is true, greater levels of
circulating caffeine resulting from the higher doses do not equate to better performance
outcomes, rather than help improve cycling performance in well-trained and familiarized
athletes. Doubling the dose to 6mg/kg does not confer any additional improvements.
consumption. This study investigated the impact of a controlled four day withdrawal
period on the effect of an acute caffeine dose on endurance performance. Irwin et al.
(2010) states that caffeine elicits an ergogenic effect of endurance activities and that
habitual caffeine consumption can cause changes in the metabolic response to acute
caffeine ingestion, which may dampen the ergogenic potential of caffeine during
exercise. With this being said, the aim of this study was to explore the effect of acute
moderate caffeine dose (3mg/kg) on time trial performance, following a four day
controlled withdrawal period, in habitual caffeine consumers. The twelve male cyclists
that participated in this study were regular caffeine consumers and had to abstain for four
days from any forms of caffeine prior to the trials. During the withdrawal period, it was
reported by the participants that all but one experienced withdrawal-like symptoms,
including headaches and some level of fatigue, while also feeling less focused and
motivated. Following the four days of no caffeine consumption, the participants were
instructed to either ingest the placebo or the capsules that contained caffeine, ninety
minutes before completing time trials. These time trials included one hour of cycling at
75% peak sustainable power output. This study indicated that the four day withdrawal
period had no impact on the ergogenic effects, but it was reported that during the caffeine
treatment, many participants did report feeling more alert and not as tired.
Irwin et al. (2010) believes that one explanation for the inability of a withdrawal
period to influence the ergogenic potential of caffeine in the study performed, could be
the habitual intakes of the participants. Habitual intake of caffeine builds up a tolerance
to the effects of acute caffeine administration and it is proposed that at least four days of
CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION AND PERFORMANCE IN ELITE ATHLETES
7
performance and provides and ergogenic benefit in regular caffeine users regardless of a
References
Abian, P., Del Coso, J., Salinero, J. J., Gallo-Salazar, C., Areces, F., Ruiz-Vicente, D., &
Del Coso, J., Ramrez, J. A., Muoz, G., Portillo, J., Gonzalez-Milln, C., Muoz, V., &
Del Coso, J., Prez-Lpez, A., Abian-Vicen, J., Salinero, J. J., Lara, B., & Valads, D.
Desbrow, B., Biddulph, C., Devlin, B., Grant, G. D., Anoopkumar-Dukie, S., & Leveritt,
Gallo-Salazar, C., Areces, F., Abin-Vicn, J., Lara, B., Salinero, J.J., Gonzalez-Milln,
C., & Del Coso, J. (2015). Enhancing physical performance in elite junior tennis
CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION AND PERFORMANCE IN ELITE ATHLETES
9
Gwacham, N., & Wagner, D. R. (2012). Acute effects of a caffeine-taurine energy drink
Irwin, C., Desbrow, B., Ellis, A., O'Keefe, B., Grant, G., & Leveritt, M. (2011). Caffeine
Keisler, B. D., & Armsey, T. D. (2006). Caffeine as an ergogenic aid. Current Sports
Lorino, A. J., Lloyd, L. K., Crixell, S. H., & Walker, J. L. (2006). The effects of caffeine
Rosenfeld, L. S., Mihalov, J. J., Carlson, S. J., & Mattia, A. (2014). Regulatory status of
Spriet, L. (2014). Exercise and sport performance with low doses of caffeine. Sports