Can caffeine supplementation reverse the impact of time of day on cognitive and short-term high intensity performances in young female handball players?

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to explore whether caffeine (CAF) intake counteracts the morning reduction in cognitive and short-term maximal physical performances related to the daily variation pattern in young female handball players. In a randomized order, 15 active young female handball players [mean (SD) age:16.3 ± 0.8 y, height: 166.1 ± 5.3 cm; body mass: 58.7 ± 9.1 kg; BMI: 21.3 ± 3.1 kg/m2] performed the simple reaction time (SRT), the attention (AT), the squat jump (SJ), the Illinois agility (IAT) and the 5 m run shuttles (to determine total (TD) and peak (PD) distances) tests at 08:00 h and 18:00 h, 60 min after a placebo (cellulose) or CAF (6 mg·kg−1) intake. The results revealed a significant diurnal variation during both the placebo and the CAF conditions, with improvement of cognitive and physical performances from 08:00 h to 18:00 h (P < .05). Moreover, the improvement of SRT and AT after CAF was better in the morning compared to the afternoon (e.g., 5.3% vs. 2.8% for SRT and 4.2% vs. 0.9% for AT). At 08:00 h and 18:00 h, SJ, IAT, TD, and PD were higher after CAF intake than Placebo (p < .05). This improvement was greater at 08:00 h than 18:00 h (e.g., 4.2% vs 1% for SJ, 1.6% vs 0.2% for IAT, 2.4% vs. 0.3% for TD, and 6% vs. 0.9% for PD). In conclusion, the dose of 6 mg·kg−1 CAF intake improves the cognitive and physical performances in young female handball players and reduces the intraday variation of these parameters. Abbreviations CAF: Caffeine PLC: Placebo SRT: Simple Reaction Time AT: Attention Test SJ: Squat Jump IAT: Illinois Agility Test OT: Oral Temperature QUEST: Questionnaire RPE: Rating of Perceived Exertion PD: Peak Distance TD: Total Distance