Caffeine-Containing, Adaptogenic-Rich Drink Modulates the Effects of Caffeine on Mental Performance and Cognitive Parameters: A Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Trial

Abstract

<jats:p>Using a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, within-participants, randomized, cross-over design, we examined the neurocognitive effects of a: (a) caffeine-containing, adaptogenic herbal-rich natural energy shot (e+ shot), (b) a matched caffeine-containing shot (caffeine), and, (c) a placebo. Participants (n = 30) were low consumers of caffeine without elevated feelings of energy. Before and three times after beverage consumption, a 27-min battery was used to assess motivation to perform cognitive tasks, mood, attention ((serial subtractions of 3 (SS3) and 7 (SS7), the continuous performance task (CPT), and the rapid visual input processing tasks)), heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and motor coordination (nine-hole peg test) with a 10-min break between each post-consumption battery. The procedure was repeated for each beverage for each participant at least 48 h apart and within 30 min the same time of day using a random group assignment with blinding of researchers and subjects. To evaluate for changes in outcomes, a Treatment × Time analysis of covariance controlling for hours of prior night’s sleep was used. Analysis of all outcomes and all treatment comparisons indicated that compared to placebo, both e+ shot ( Δ ¯ = 2.60; η2 = 0.098) and caffeine ( Δ ¯ = 5.30, η2 = 0.098) increased systolic BP 30 min post consumption (still within normal healthy ranges). The caffeine beverage also led to an improvement in most cognitive measures and moods 30-min post-consumption with improvements tapering at 69 and 108 min, while e+ shot noted more steady improvements with no significant differences between beverages on most cognitive and mood measures at 69 and 108 min. However, compared to caffeine, e+shots noted a significant decrease in reaction time at 108 min, while caffeine noted a small change in the opposite direction. No side-effects were reported by any intervention. These results suggest that the specific blend of adaptogens in e+ shot may modulate the neurocognitive effects of caffeine on mood, and cognition.</jats:p>

Translation and Validation of the Caffeine Expectancy Questionnaire in Brazil (CaffEQ-BR)

“…Across previous CaffEQ studies, caffeine was consumed mainly in coffee, a habit also observed in Brazil [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Globally, habitual coffee consumption ranges from about 1 to more than 5 cups per day, which indicates that the daily dose is defined by several reasons, like lifestyle, gender, expectance of caffeine effects, culture, genetics, health effects, among others [ 2 , 36 , 57 ]. Most of our sample (69%) are used to consuming 2 or 3 portions of coffee daily ( Table 3 ).…”

“…The percentages exceed 100% because consumption can occur in two or more periods. 2 Filtered or espresso, hot or iced coffee. 3 Tea sources of caffeine like mate, green and black tea.…”

“…Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world [1,2] with several guidelines addressing the form of use, dosage, and limits for safe consumption [3][4][5]. Worldwide, and in Brazil, caffeine intake occurs primarily through coffee consumption [1].…”

Trait Energy and Fatigue Modify the Effects of Caffeine on Mood, Cognitive and Fine-Motor Task Performance: A Post-Hoc Study

“…While the authors of this study are aware of only one study that examines the effects of trait mental and physical energy and fatigue on moods [ 14 ], that study reports that trait mental and physical energy and fatigue moderates the effects of sleep on state energy and fatigue [ 14 ]. These findings raise an interesting question about whether trait mental and physical energy and fatigue may also modify the intensity or effects of other interventions (e.g., caffeine) on changes in self-reported mood and/or objective measures of mental energy during the performance of a common mental test battery [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ] used in nutritional science research. Based on this premise, we re-examined data from a previously published study [ 28 ] that investigated whether an adaptogenic-rich caffeine-containing beverage would modulate the effects of caffeine on self-reported mood and objective measures of energy and fatigue.…”

“…Therefore, the aims of our current analyses were to determine whether trait mental and physical energy and fatigue influence the rate of change in (1) state moods, (2) cognitive task performance (objective mental energy measure), and (3) fine motor task performance, when participants perform a commonly used mental energy test battery [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ] on days when they consumed caffeine compared to the days when they consumed placebo. To address these aims, we performed a post-hoc analysis of our previous study [ 28 ] limited to the days when participants consumed placebo and the active comparator (caffeinated) conditions only.…”