(27) EFFECT OF MODERATE ACUTE CAFFEINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON ANAEROBIC PERFORMANCE IN DIVISION III COLLEGIATE ATHLETES

Caffeine (C) is widely considered an effective ergogenic aid in sport and exercise due to its ability to improve central nervous system activity and muscular contraction rate. While research is emerging, most C research has been on male participants. Additionally, the potential role that C has on an anerobic test battery in NCAA Division III collegiate athletes is not fully understood. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of acute supplementation of a moderate dosage (6mg/kg) of C on a three-test anaerobic battery in male (M) and female (F) Division III collegiate athletes. Methods: Data from 22 Division III athletes (M = 13; F = 9) were used for analysis using a single-blind, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced study design. Participants arrived for testing and had their body weight taken, from which the appropriate dosage of C or Placebo (P) were calculated. Participants then drank a 500ml bottle of water with the dissolved solution and waited for 60 minutes to allow for peak absorption.  Following the wait period, participants warmed up for five minutes. All participants completed the following three-test battery for both trials: Countermovement vertical jump (VJ); T-test (T); and 40-yd sprint (S). Each participant was given three attempts at each test, with 60 seconds of rest in between each trial, and the best performance was used for analysis. This process was completed 24 hours later with the opposite solution. Paired samples t-test were run on each of the three anaerobic variables (VJ, T, and S) to determine the effect C had on performance. This analysis was conducted on all participants as a group and separated out by gender. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05, and all data is presented as means ± SD. Results: A significant difference was noted for all participants on VJ with C improving performance (C: 39.3 ± 11.7, P: 37.0 ± 12.2cm; p < 0.01, d = 0.61). When analyzed by gender, a significant difference was noted for M with C improving VJ (p = 0.04, d = 0.65). No significant difference was noted among F (p = 0.15, d = 0.53). A significant difference was noted for all participants on T with C improving performance (C: 10.02 ± 1.03, P: 10.42 ± 1.09cm; p < 0.01, d = -1.27). When analyzed by gender, a significant difference was noted for both M (p < 0.01, d = -1.31) and F (p < 0.01, d = -1.18) with C improving T. A significant difference was noted for all participants on S with C improving performance (C: 5.48 ± 0.54, P: 5.57 ± 0.49cm; p = 0.02, d = -0.56). When analyzed by gender, a significant difference was noted for M with C improving S (p = 0.05, d = 0.65). No significant difference was noted among F (p = 0.13, d = -0.56). Conclusions: Overall, an acute, moderate dose (6 mg/kg) of C does improve anaerobic performance in Division III collegiate athletes. However, F athletes did not see as much improvement as M athletes when looked at separately. The anaerobic ergogenic effect of an acute, moderate dose of C may be greater in M compared to F athletes. Practical Applications: Strength and conditioning professionals and coaches may want to consider careful promotion of C as a low-cost, safe, ergogenic aid to improve speed, power, and agility in collegiate athletes, especially male athletes. However, caution to ensure that appropriate dosing, and careful monitoring of an athlete’s current C consumption is paramount to avoid negative health side effects or potential failed drug test for NCAA athletes.

Acknowledgements: None