The acute effect of different doses of caffeine supplementation on the performance of trained cyclists with low habitual caffeine intake

• Grant number: 24/16671-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2024
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Bryan Saunders
• Grantee: Leonardo Santos Vasco Marinho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/06836-0 - Placebo in sports and exercise: prevalence, conditioning and open-placebo, AP.JP2

Abstract

Caffeine can exert an ergogenic effect in exercises performed across a wide range of intensities and durations. However, there seems to be substantial individual variability in the performance response to its supplementation. Currently, the influence of habitual caffeine consumption on the acute ergogenic effect following its ingestion is a topic being extensively explored in sports science. Regular caffeine use appears to reduce the magnitude of its ergogenic effect, although there is contrasting evidence. It has been hypothesized that this reduction can be offset by the acute ingestion of a caffeine dose higher than what is typically consumed.Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate whether acute caffeine supplementation with a dose higher than the usual daily intake can offset the tolerance to its ergogenic effect developed after chronic consumption.Methods: Twenty trained cyclists with low habitual caffeine consumption (<75 mg/day) will be recruited to perform 4-km cycling time trials in a crossover, counterbalanced, and randomized design after receiving, in a double-blind manner: 3 mg/kg of caffeine (CAF 3), 6 mg/kg of caffeine (CAF 6), and placebo (PLA).