Abstract
Cognitive functions are essential in any form of exercise. Recently, interest has mounted in addressing the relationship between caffeine intake and cognitive performance during sports practice. This review examines this relationship through a structured search of the databases Medline/PubMed and Web of Science for relevant articles published in English from August 1999 to March 2020. The study followed PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria were defined according to the PICOS model. The identified records reported on randomized cross-over studies in which caffeine intake (as drinks, capsules, energy bars, or gum) was compared to an identical placebo situation. There were no filters on participants’ training level, gender, or age. For the systematic review, 13 studies examining the impacts of caffeine on objective measures of cognitive performance or self-reported cognitive performance were selected. Five of these studies were also subjected to meta-analysis. After pooling data in the meta-analysis, the significant impacts of caffeine only emerged on attention, accuracy, and speed. The results of the 13 studies, nevertheless, suggest that the intake of a low/moderate dose of caffeine before and/or during exercise can improve self-reported energy, mood, and cognitive functions, such as attention; it may also improve simple reaction time, choice reaction time, memory, or fatigue, however, this may depend on the research protocols.
Highlights
Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is among the supplements most commonly used by athletes of all sports modalities [1,2,3,4]
DiscusTsihoenpurpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize all of the Tsacbhileeensptrifiuelcrapetevodidsteeonoccoefgtanhviaitsiilvasebyplseetrreefmogramardtaiinnccgreethivneiseepfwfoercatt.snDodfuamectueottetahc-eaafdnfeiafifnleyeressniustpowpuleatcmsoetmnoetasmtuioemnasmounraevrsaiorzife- all of t scientthifeicstuedviieds,etnhceevaarviaabilleasbdleescrreibgeadrbdeilnowg wtheereecflufestcetrsedofforamcuotree ccoamffperienheenssuivpe psclreumtineyn. tation variables related to cognitive performance in sport
Russell et al detected no difference in response congruence in the Stroop test in professional male rugby players supplemented with caffeine (4.1 ± 0.5 mg/kg) or a placebo [52]. These results suggest that the impacts of caffeine on the Stroop test could depend on the sport’s modality, with more pronounced effects of caffeine supplementation produced in modalities with lower attention demands, such as endurance compared to team sports
Summary
Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is among the supplements most commonly used by athletes of all sports modalities [1,2,3,4]. Caffeine maximizes glycolytic activity through increased activity of the enzyme phosphofructokinase [14] This means that, after ~60 min of caffeine supplementation coinciding with peak blood levels [15], caffeine has confirmed ergogenic effects in a wide range of sports activities [16,17]. These activities include as much of those involving a predominance of oxidative metabolism, such as endurance sport modalities [18,19], as those involving a predominance of non-oxidative metabolism, such as those requiring a high movement velocity [20] and power [21], i.e., the Wingate test [22], or a mixed metabolism, such as team sports [23], combat sports [24], or racquet sports [25]
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