Does Caffeine ingestion prior to high intensity exercise act as an ergogenic aid in sporting performance in male athletes?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of caffeine on high intensity exercise. Trained male university students (n=12, 20.5±0.67 years, 83.8±6.57kg) volunteered to participate in the study. The testing protocol was a randomised, counter balanced, double-blinded design and was completed over a two-week period during two sessions, with participants consuming a caffeinated gel and a placebo gel. The gel contained 75mg of caffeine and was consumed one-hour before exercise. Five exercises were used for testing; one repetition maximum squat, one repetition maximum bench press (with 3-4 minutes rest between attempts) three loaded jump squats at 40% of 1RM, three medicine ball pushes with 5kg medicine ball, and a 10 second sprint of a Wingate. The caffeine gel increased performance in all five of the exercise with a percentage increase when caffeine was consumed compared to the placebo trial. A significant difference was noted in the squat, loaded jump squat and medicine ball push (Caffeine = 143.1 ± 23.1 VS. Placebo = 138.3 ± 22.1 P<0.05; Caffeine = 1160.5 ± 206.13 VS. Placebo = 1093.2 ± 212.63 P<0.05 and Caffeine = 6.2 ± 0.42 VS. Placebo = 5.9 ± 0.41 CM respectively). Overall performance was improved when caffeine was consumed one-hour prior to exercise. However, there were no significant difference noted in the bench press and Wingate.