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Similar ergogenic effect of caffeine on anaerobic performance in men and women athletes

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Abstract

Purpose

Caffeine is widely considered an ergogenic aid to increase anaerobic performance although most of this evidence is supported by investigations with only male samples. To date, it is unknown if the ergogenic effect of caffeine on anaerobic performance is of similar magnitude in men and women athletes. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of the ergogenic effect of caffeine on the Wingate test in men and women.

Methods

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over experimental trial, ten women athletes and ten men athletes performed a 15-s adapted version of the Wingate test after ingesting 3 mg of caffeine per kg of body mass or a placebo (cellulose).

Results

In comparison to the performance obtained in the 15-s Wingate test with a placebo, caffeine increased peak power in men (9.9 ± 0.8 vs. 10.1 ± 0.8 W/kg, p < 0.01, d = 0.26) and in women (8.8 ± 0.9 vs. 9.1 ± 0.8 W/kg, p = 0.04, d = 0.30). Caffeine was also effective to increase the mean power in men (8.9 ± 0.7 vs. 9.0 ± 0.7 W/kg, p = 0.01, d = 0.21) and women (8.1 ± 0.7 vs. 8.3 ± 0.7 W/kg, p = 0.01, d = 0.27). The ergogenic effect of caffeine on the 15-s Wingate peak power (2.3 ± 3.2% in men and 3.2 ± 2.8% in women; p = 0.46) and mean power (2.0 ± 1.7% and 2.4 ± 2.3%, respectively; p = 0.93) was of similar magnitude in both sexes.

Conclusion

Acute ingestion of 3 mg kg−1 of caffeine enhanced peak and mean cycling power during a 15-s adapted version of the Wingate test in men and women and the ergogenic effect was of similar magnitude in both sexes. This information suggests that both men and women athletes might obtain similar benefits from caffeine supplementation during anaerobic exercise.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the participants for their invaluable contribution to the study.

Funding

This investigation did not receive any funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Camilo José Cela University., C/Castillo de Alarcon, 49. Villafranca del Castillo, 28692, Madrid, Spain

    Beatriz Lara, Juan José Salinero & Verónica Giráldez-Costas

  2. Performance and Sport Rehabilitation Laboratory, Castilla La Mancha University, Toledo, Spain

    Juan José Salinero

  3. Centre for Sport Studies, Rey Juan Carlos University, Fuenlabrada, Spain

    Juan Del Coso

Authors
  1. Beatriz Lara
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  2. Juan José Salinero
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  3. Verónica Giráldez-Costas
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  4. Juan Del Coso
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Correspondence to Beatriz Lara.

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The authors declare no support from any organization for the submitted work; no financial relationships with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous 3 years; and no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

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Lara, B., Salinero, J.J., Giráldez-Costas, V. et al. Similar ergogenic effect of caffeine on anaerobic performance in men and women athletes. Eur J Nutr 60, 4107–4114 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-021-02510-6

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