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Caffeine improves physical and cognitive performance during exhaustive exercise

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posted on 2014-07-02, 13:33 authored by Eef HogervorstEef Hogervorst, Stephan Bandelow, Jeroen A.J. Schmitt, Roy Jentjens, Marta Oliveira, Judith E. Allgrove, Tom Carter, Michael Gleeson
Caffeine is thought to act as a central stimulant and to have effects on physical, cognitive, and psychomotor functioning. Purpose: To examine the effects of ingesting a performance bar, containing caffeine, before and during cycling exercise on physical and cognitive performance. Methods: Twenty-four well-trained cyclists consumed the products [a performance bar containing 45 g of carbohydrate and 100 mg of caffeine (CAF), an isocaloric noncaffeine performance bar (CHO), or 300 mL of placebo beverage (BEV)] immediately before performing a 2.5-h exercise at 60% V·O2max followed by a time to exhaustion trial (T2EX) at 75% V·O2max. Additional products were taken after 55 and 115 min of exercise. Cognitive function measures (computerized Stroop and Rapid Visual Information Processing tests) were performed before exercise and while cycling after 70 and 140 min of exercise and again 5 min after completing the T2EX ride. Results: Participants were significantly faster after CAF when compared with CHO on both the computerized complex information processing tests, particularly after 140 min and after the T2EX ride (P < 0.001). On the BEV trial, performance was significantly slower than after both other treatments (P < 0.0001). There were no speed-accuracy tradeoffs (P > 0.10). T2EX was longer after CAF consumption compared with both CHO and BEV trials (P < 0.05), and T2EX was longer after CHO than after BEV (P < 0.05). No differences were found in the ratings of perceived exertion, mean heart rate, and relative exercise intensity (% V·O2max; P > 0.05). Conclusion: Caffeine in a performance bar can significantly improve endurance performance and complex cognitive ability during and after exercise. These effects may be salient for sports performance in which concentration plays a major role.

History

School

  • Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Published in

MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE

Volume

40

Issue

10

Pages

1841 - 1851 (11)

Citation

HOGERVORST, E. ... et al, 2008. Caffeine improves physical and cognitive performance during exhaustive exercise. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 40 (10), pp. 1841 - 1851.

Publisher

Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins / © American College of Sports Medicine

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publication date

2008

Notes

This is a non-final version of an article published in final form in: HOGERVORST, E. ... et al, 2008. Caffeine improves physical and cognitive performance during exhaustive exercise. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 40 (10), pp. 1841 - 1851.

ISSN

0195-9131

Language

  • en

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