The Effect of Creatine Nitrate and Caffeine Individually or Combined on Exercise Performance and Cognitive Function: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

This study examined the effect of creatine nitrate and caffeine alone and combined on exercise performance and cognitive function in resistance-trained athletes. In a double-blind, randomized crossover trial, twelve resistance-trained male athletes were supplemented with 7 days of creatine nitrate (5 g/day), caffeine (400 mg/day), and a combination of creatine nitrate and caffeine. The study involved twelve resistance-trained male athletes who initially provided a blood sample for comprehensive safety analysis, including tests for key enzymes and a lipid profile, and then performed standardized resistance exercises—bench and leg press at 70% 1RM—and a Wingate anaerobic power test. Cognitive function and cardiovascular responses were also examined forty-five minutes after supplementation. Creatine nitrate and caffeine that were co-ingested significantly enhanced cognitive function, as indicated by improved scores in the Stroop Word–Color Interference test (p = 0.04; effect size = 0.163). Co-ingestion was more effective than caffeine alone in enhancing cognitive performance. In contrast, no significant enhancements in exercise performance were observed. The co-ingestion of creatine nitrate and caffeine improved cognitive function, particularly in cognitive interference tasks, without altering short-term exercise performance. Furthermore, no adverse events were reported. Overall, the co-ingestion of creatine nitrate and caffeine appears to enhance cognition without any reported side effects for up to seven days.

Timing Matters: Time of Day Impacts the Ergogenic Effects of Caffeine—A Narrative Review

“…Research investigating the impact of caffeine intake on exercise performance has explored its effects across various exercise tests, including aerobic endurance performance [14], muscular endurance [15], 1 repetition maximum (1 RM) intensity [16], vertical jump height [17], isokinetic peak torque [18], and power output in different exercise modalities [19]. Additional systematic reviews have underscored the synergistic ergogenic effects of caffeine on the specific aspects of power-based sports [20], resistance exercises [21], and sport-specific endurance [22]. Following caffeine's removal from the banned list of stimulants by WADA, its utilization among athletes has surged.…”