Abstract
Purpose
We investigated whether caffeine consumption can enhance peak oxygen uptake (\({\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{\text{2peak}}}\)) by increasing peak ventilation during an incremental cycling test, and subsequently enhance time to exhaustion (TTE) during high-intensity cycling exercise in moderate normobaric hypoxia.
Methods
We conducted a double-blind, placebo cross-over design study. Sixteen recreational male endurance athletes (age: 20 ± 2 years, \({\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{\text{2peak}}}\): 55.6 ± 3.6 ml/kg/min, peak power output: 318 ± 40 W) underwent an incremental cycling test and a TTE test at 80% \({\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{\text{2peak}}}\) (derived from the placebo trial) in moderate normobaric hypoxia (fraction of inspired O2: 15.3 ± 0.2% corresponding to a simulated altitude of ~ 2500 m) after consuming either a moderate dose of caffeine (6 mg/kg) or a placebo.
Results
Caffeine consumption resulted in a higher peak ventilation [159 ± 21 vs. 150 ± 26 L/min; P < 0.05; effect size (ES) = 0.31]. \({\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{\text{2peak}}}\) (3.58 ± 0.44 vs. 3.47 ± 0.47 L/min; P < 0.01; ES = 0.44) and peak power output (308 ± 44 vs. 302 ± 44 W; P = 0.02, ES = 0.14) were higher following caffeine consumption than during the placebo trial. During the TTE test, caffeine consumption enhanced minute ventilation (P = 0.02; ES = 0.28) and extended the TTE (426 ± 74 vs. 358 ± 75 s; P < 0.01, ES = 0.91) compared to the placebo trial. There was a positive correlation between the percent increase of \({\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{\text{2peak}}}\) following caffeine consumption and the percent increase in TTE (r = 0.49, P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Moderate caffeine consumption stimulates breathing and aerobic metabolism, resulting in improved performance during incremental and high-intensity endurance exercises in moderate normobaric hypoxia.
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Data availability
As this data set are currently involving with multiple ongoing manuscripts, sharing this to public is therefore not available. However, data will be available upon request to the corresponding author.
Abbreviations
- CO2 :
-
Carbon dioxide
- O2 :
-
Oxygen
- \({\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{\text{2peak}}}\) :
-
Peak oxygen uptake
- RPE:
-
Ratings of perceived exertion
- TTE:
-
Time to exhaustion
- W:
-
Watts
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Acknowledgements
We sincerely thank the participants for their time and efforts to participate in this study.
Funding
This study was supported by research project of Shanghai University of Sport (grant number: 2022XJ020) and supported by Shanghai Key Lab of Human Performance at Shanghai University of Sport (grant number: 11DZ2261100).
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L.Z., Q.Q., G.O., W.R., G.L. and C.Y. conceived and designed experiments; L.Z., Q.Q. and C.Y. contributed to data collection; L.Z., Q.Q. and C.Y. performed data analysis. L.Z., Q.Q., G.O., M.T., W.R., G.L. and C.Y. interpreted the experimental results; C.Y. prepared figures; L.Z. drafted manuscript; L.Z., G.O., M.T. and C.Y. edited and revised the manuscript; all authors approved the final version of the manuscript; all experiments took place at the School of Athletic Performance located at the Shanghai University of Sport, China.
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Lei, TH., Qin, Q., Girard, O. et al. Caffeine intake enhances peak oxygen uptake and performance during high-intensity cycling exercise in moderate hypoxia. Eur J Appl Physiol 124, 537–549 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05295-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05295-0