EFFECT OF REDBULL ENERGY DRINK ON POWER DECREMENT AND PEAK POWER OUTPUT IN THE UPPER AND LOWER BODY

Abstract

This counter-balanced, cross-over study examined the effects of Red Bull™ on peak power output (PPO), power decrement (PD) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in the upper and lower body. Ten resistance trained males 21.3 ± 8 years old volunteered for the study; body mass 76.2 ± 28 kg and height 177.4 ± 14 cm. The testing procedure comprised of two exercises, bench throws and loaded squat jumps, both consisted of 3 sets of 8 repetitions. Red Bull™ was administered 1 hour prior to testing; with a linear position transducer (LPT) used to measure PPO in both upper and lower body exercises. There was an overall supplementation effect on bench throw when Red Bull™ had been ingested, whereby mean PPO (MPPO) was significantly greater after consumption (Red Bull™ = 554 ± 21 VS. control = 523 ± 23 Watts over the 3 sets, P = 0.008). An effect of borderline significance was noted between Red Bull™ and control MPPO, during loaded squat jumps (Red Bull™ = 715 ± 17.3 VS. control = 692.1 ± 18.1 Watts, P = 0.053). An overall significant difference was observed in bench throw RPE, whereby RPE was significantly lower after Red Bull™ ingestion (Red Bull™ = 11.6 ± 1.3 VS. control = 13.4 ± 2.0 over all 3 sets, P = 0.042). Similarly, RPE in loaded squat jumps displayed an overall significant effect, RPE was significantly lower after Red Bull™ consumption (Red Bull™ = 11.6 ± 1.5 VS. control = 12.7 ± 1.4 over all 3 sets, P = 0.011). However, in bench throws (Red Bull™ = 6 ± 2 VS. Control = 5 ± 3.4 % over the 3 sets, P = 0.774) and loaded squat jumps (Red Bull™ = 3.3 ± 2 VS. control = 4 ± 2.3 % over all sets, P = 0.093), no overall significant difference was found in PD between interventions. These findings suggest that Red Bull™ supplementation is an effective ergogenic aid, for resistance trained males who perform upper body resistance exercises. This finding potentially relates to caffeine’s antagonism of adenosine receptors, muscle fibre distribution and its stimulation of central and peripheral pathways.