Effects of Salbutamol and Caffeine Ingestion on Exercise Metabolism and Performance

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the effects of acute oral salbutamol and caffeine intake on performance and metabolism during short-term endurance exercise. Eight healthy volunteers participated in the double-blind placebo-controlled randomized cross-over study. Two 10 min cycling trials were performed at a power corresponding to 90 % VO 2 max for the first and a mock test for the second, separated by 10 min of passive recovery after ingestion of placebo (Pla), salbutamol (Sal, 6 mg) and caffeine (Caf, 250 mg). Performance (mean power during the mock test) was not statistically significant between the 3 treatments. Blood lactate was significantly increased after Sal compared to Pla at rest and until the end of the mock test whereas it appeared significantly increased after Caf compared to Pla at the end of the two exercises. Sal increased basal blood glucose and both Sal and Caf induced significant higher plasma insulin concentrations at rest, at the end of the mock test and during the recovery compared to Pla. No significant changes were found in these three variables between the Sal and the Caf treatments. Plasma growth hormone was significantly decreased after Sal after the mock test compared to the two other treatments. In conclusion, under the conditions of this study, neither oral salbutamol nor caffeine intake produce enhancement of short-term performance in non-specific trained subjects despite the substantial shifts in metabolic and hormonal parameters which were found.

Salbutamol intake and substrate oxidation during submaximal exercise

“…The earlier limited data on the effects of acute salbutamol on GH in humans (Giustina et al 1995;Collomp et al 2005;Le Panse et al 2006) have found acute salbutamol administration to decrease exercise GH concentrations, probably via enhanced somatostatin secretion and/or activity. In healthy subjects, acute b 2 stimulation blunts the physiological GH response to both maximal (Collomp et al 2002) and supramaximal exercise (Le Panse et al 2007). It may than be suggested that a higher intensity of exercise is necessary to reveal a blunted effect of acute salbutamol on GH secretion.…”

“…As a matter of fact, only two studies (Collomp et al 2000a(Collomp et al , 2002 investigated these parameters and showed that systemic salbutamol intake increases Cpeptide or insulin concentrations without significant change in blood glucose concentrations during 80-85% VO 2 max submaximal exercise or a mock test. In the present work, we did not find any significant change in either blood glucose or insulin concentrations after salbutamol intake compared to placebo.…”

“…Due to the fear of the ergogenic doping effects demonstrated after both acute (Van Baak et al 2000;Collomp et al 2000aCollomp et al , 2002Le Panse et al 2007) and chronic (Collomp et al 2000b;Le Panse et al 2005 systemic abuse, the World antidoping agency (WADA) has put certain restrictions upon the use of beta-2 agonists and presently list four beta-agonists (i.e., salbutamol, terbutaline, formoterol and salmeterol) as a legal medication, permitted in the aerosol form only with a abbreviated therapeutic use exemption (TUE), whereas systemic use is completely banned.…”

Does Caffeine Added to Carbohydrate Provide Additional Ergogenic Benefit for Endurance?

“…Thirty-three peer-reviewed research articles met the inclusion criteria (Alves et al, 1995;Bell, Jacobs, & Zamecnik, 1998;Berglund & Hemmingsson, 1982;Bridge & Jones, 2006;Butts & Crowell, 1985;Cadarette, Levine, Berube, Posner, & Evans, 1983;Cha et al, 2001;Cohen et al, 1996;Collomp et al, 2002;Conway, Orr, & Stannard, 2003;Costill et al, 1978;Denadai & Denadai, 1998;French et al, 1991;Fulco et al, 1994;Graham, Hibbert, & Sathasivam, 1998;Graham & Spriet, 1991;Greer, Hudson, Ross, & Graham, 2001;Ivy et al, 1979;Jenkins, Trilk, Singhal, O'Conner, & Cureton, 2008;Lindinger, Graham, & Spriet, 1993;MacIntosh & Wright, 1995;McLellan, Bell, & Kamimori, 2004;McNaughton et al, 2008;Norager, Jensen, Madsen, & Laurberg, 2005;Pasman et al, 1995;Powers, Byrd, Tulley, & Callendar, 1983;Sasaki et al, 1987;Slivka et al, 2008;Spriet et al, 1992;Trice & Haymes, 1995;Van Soeren & Graham, 1998; Table 3). Three research articles Berglund & Hemmingsson, 1982;Butts & Crowell, 1985) reported Note.…”

Effects of caffeine (3 mg) on maximal oxygen consumption, plasmatic lactate and reaction time after maximum effort. (Efectos de la utilización de 3 mg de cafeína sobre los niveles de potencia aeróbica máxima, de lactato plasmático y del tiempo de reacción simple, ambos después de la realización de esfuerzo máximo).

“…On the other hand, others (Haller et al, 2004;Collomp et al, 2002) narrate no significant difference in lactate concentration in association with caffeine use. The belief diffused that intense exercise leads to "lactic acid" production, which contributes to acidosis, is questionable.…”