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Caffeine Placebo Effect in Sport and Exercise: A Systematic Review
Alejandro Vega-Muñoz1,2, Nicolás Contreras-Barraza3, Guido Salazar-Sepúlveda4,5
1Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Central de Chile, Santiago 8330507, Chile.
Caffeine enhances athletic performance, particularly anaerobic capacity and endurance. Interestingly, the placebo effect, where individuals believe they are taking caffeine, can also boost performance by reducing pain and improving focus.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Caffeine is a widely used ergogenic aid in sports.
- The psychological impact of perceived caffeine intake on performance is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the caffeine placebo effect in sport and exercise.
- To analyze the impact of caffeine and its placebo on sports performance.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
- Searches conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed.
- Eligibility criteria established using the PICOS tool and PRISMA methodology.
Main Results:
- Caffeine ingestion demonstrably improves anaerobic capacity and endurance.
- Perceived caffeine intake (placebo) also enhances performance by mitigating pain perception and sharpening concentration.
- Expectations play a significant role in modulating physical performance.
Conclusions:
- Both actual caffeine and the placebo effect influence athletic performance.
- Managing athlete expectations can be a viable strategy to enhance sports performance.
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