Effects of caffeine ingestion on cardiopulmonary responses during a maximal graded exercise test: a systematic review
Alisson Henrique Marinho1,2,3,4, João Paulo Lopes-Silva5, Gislaine Cristina-Souza2,4
1Laboratory of Applied Sports Science, Institute of Physical Education and Sports, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil.
Insights
Caffeine ingestion boosts time to exhaustion and peak minute ventilation during maximal graded exercise tests (GXT). This meta-analysis found no significant impact on other key cardiopulmonary measures like peak oxygen uptake or heart rate.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Caffeine's ergogenic effects on endurance are established.
- Its impact on cardiopulmonary responses during maximal graded exercise testing (GXT) requires further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Caffeine ingestion enhances time to exhaustion and peak minute ventilation during GXT.
- These findings contribute to understanding caffeine's physiological effects during maximal exercise.
Abstract:
While the effects of caffeine ingestion on endurance performance are well known, its effects on cardiopulmonary responses during a maximal graded exercise test have been less explored. This study systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed studies investigating the effects of caffeine ingestion on cardiopulmonary responses during a maximal graded exercise test. A search was performed in four databases, and study quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Data reported by the selected studies were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis, with selected moderator effects assessed via meta-regression. Twenty-one studies with good and excellent methodological quality were included in this review. Compared to placebo, caffeine increased peak minute ventilation (SMD = 0.33; p = 0.01) and time to exhaustion (SMD = 0.41; p = 0.01). However, meta-regression showed no moderating effects of dosage and timing of caffeine ingestion, stage length, or total length of GXT (all p > 0.05). Caffeine ingestion did not affect peak oxygen uptake (SMD = 0.13; p = 0.42), peak heart rate (SMD = 0.27; p = 0.07), peak blood lactate concentration (SMD = 0.60; p = 0.09), peak tidal volume (SMD = 0.10; p = 0.69), peak breathing frequency (SMD =0.20; p = 0.23), or peak power output (SMD = 0.22; p = 0.28). The results of this systematic review with meta-analysis suggest that caffeine increases time to exhaustion and peak minute ventilation among the cardiopulmonary variables assessed during GXT.
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