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The Physiological and Performance Effects of Caffeine Gum Consumed During A Simulated Half-Time By Professional Academy Rugby Union Players

Russell M, Reynolds N.A, Crewther B.T, Cook C.J, Kilduff L, Liam Kilduff Orcid Logo

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Start page: 1

Swansea University Author: Liam Kilduff Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002185

Abstract

Despite the prevalence of caffeine as an ergogenic aid, few studies have examined the use of caffeinated gums, especially during half-time in team sports. The physiological (blood lactate, salivary hormone concentrations) and performance (repeated sprints, cognitive function) effects of consuming ca...

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Published in: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
ISSN: 1064-8011
Published: 2017
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34830
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Abstract: Despite the prevalence of caffeine as an ergogenic aid, few studies have examined the use of caffeinated gums, especially during half-time in team sports. The physiological (blood lactate, salivary hormone concentrations) and performance (repeated sprints, cognitive function) effects of consuming caffeine gum during a simulated half-time were examined. Professional academy rugby union players (n=14) completed this double-blind, randomized, counterbalanced study. Following pre-exercise measurements , players chewed a placebo (PL) gum for five min before a standardized warm-up and completing repeated sprint testing (RSSA1). Thereafter, during a 15 min simulated half-time period, players chewed either caffeine (CAF: 400 mg; 4.1 +/- 0.5 mg[middle dot]kg-1) or PL gum for five min before completing a second repeated sprint test (RSSA2). Blood lactate, salivary testosterone and cortisol concentrations, and indices of cognitive function (i.e., reaction time and Stroop test) were measured at baseline, pre-RSSA1, post-RSSA1, pre-RSSA2 and post-RSSA2. Sprint performance was not affected by CAF (P=0.995) despite slower sprint times following the first sprint of both RSSA tests (all P<0.002). Following half-time, salivary testosterone increased by 70% (+97+/-58 pg[middle dot]mL-1) in CAF versus PLA (P<0.001) whereas salivary cortisol remained unchanged (P=0.307). Cognitive performance was unaffected by time and trial (all P>0.05). Although performance effects were absent, chewing caffeine gum increased the salivary testosterone concentrations of professional rugby union players over a simulated half-time. Practitioners may therefore choose to recommend caffeine gum between successive exercise bouts due to the increases in salivary testosterone observed; a variable associated with increased motivation and high-intensity exercise performance.
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Start Page: 1

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