Minimal Effect of Acute Caffeine Ingestion on Intense Resistance Training Performance

Abstract

The primary aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of acute caffeine intake to enhance intense resistance training performance. Fourteen resistance-trained men (age and body mass = 23.1 ± 1.1 years and 83.4 ± 13.2 kg, respectively) who regularly consumed caffeine ingested caffeine (6 mg · kg(-1)) or placebo 1 hour before completion of 4 sets of barbell bench press, leg press, bilateral row, and barbell shoulder press to fatigue at 70-80% 1-repetition maximum. Two minutes of rest was allotted between sets. Saliva samples were obtained to assess caffeine concentration. The number of repetitions completed per set and total weight lifted were recorded as indices of performance. Two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to examine differences in performance across treatment and sets. Compared to placebo, there was a small but significant effect (p < 0.05) of acute caffeine intake on repetitions completed for the leg press but not for upper-body exercise (p > 0.05). Total weight lifted across sets was similar (p > 0.05) with caffeine (22,409.5 ± 3,773.2 kg) vs. placebo (21,185.7 ± 4,655.4 kg), yet there were 9 'responders' to caffeine, represented by a meaningful increase in total weight lifted with caffeine vs. placebo. Any ergogenic effect of caffeine on performance of fatiguing, total-body resistance training appears to be of limited practical significance. Additional research is merited to elucidate interindividual differences in caffeine-mediated improvements in performance.

The effects of different doses of caffeine on performance, rating of perceived exertion and pain perception in teenagers female karate athletes

“…Spriet (2014) found that moderate to high caffeine doses (5-13 mg/kg) ingested 1h before and during exercise increase endurance exercise performance in laboratory and sport field settings. In a follow-up, Astorino et al (2011a) gave 6 mg/kg caffeine 60 min before exercise (completion of four sets of barbell bench press, leg press, and bilateral row) to resistant trained men who were regular caffeine consumers, showing a significant effect of acute caffeine ingestion on leg press performance.…”

“…In addition, Warren et al (2010) demonstrated that caffeine ingestion (1-9 mg/kg) improves maximal voluntary contraction strength and muscular endurance. Astorino et al (2011a) reported that caffeine consumption (6 mg/kg) before exercise (60 min) has significant effect on leg press performance. However, in another study, it was shown that ingestion of caffeine has no effect on 1RM strength and muscular endurance (Astorino, Rohmann, Firth, 2008;Beck et al, 2006).…”

“…Spriet (2014) found that moderate to high caffeine doses (5-13 mg/kg) ingested 1h before and during exercise increase endurance exercise performance in laboratory and sport field settings. In a follow-up, Astorino et al (2011a) gave 6 mg/kg caffeine 60 min before exercise (completion of four sets of barbell bench press, leg press, and bilateral row) to resistant trained men who were regular caffeine consumers, showing a significant effect of acute caffeine ingestion on leg press performance.The differences between our results and previous studies are due to caffeine dosages, the type of muscle actions performed, the characteristics and fitness level of the study subjects. Also, considering the ergogenic benefits of caffeine directly on skeletal muscle (Tarnopolsky, 2010;Woolf, Bidwell, Carlson, 2008), elite athletes generally have more muscle mass than recreational athletes; also, women have less muscle mass than men.…”

Caffeine Supplementation as an Ergogenic Aid for Muscular Strength and Endurance: A Recommendation for Coaches and Athletes

“…Several studies have investigated the effects of caffeine on muscular endurance performance using a variety of protocols [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]26,[39][40][41] (Table 1). Caffeine's ability to increase the amount of repetitions performed at set percentages of participants 1 RM is an area that has been relatively well explored [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]26,39,40].…”

“…Caffeine's ability to increase the amount of repetitions performed at set percentages of participants 1 RM is an area that has been relatively well explored [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]26,39,40]. In 2011, Astorino et al [40] recruited fourteen resistance trained, average caffeine (~218 mg/day) consuming males to perform resistance exercises to failure. Participants consumed either caffeine (6 mg.kg.bw -1…”