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Effect of Caffeine and Nitrates Combination on Exercise Performance, Heart Rate and Oxygen Uptake: A Systematic
Laura Gilsanz1, Juan Del Coso2, Sergio L Jiménez-Saiz2
1Department of Physical Education, Sport and Human Movement, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
Background:
The evidence about the synergy of combining caffeine (CAF) and nitrates on exercise performance has not been summarized, although there is a possibility of additive/synergistic effects of the co-ingestion of these substances given their different mechanisms of action in central (CAF) and peripheral tissues (nitrates).
Objectives:
The aim was to analyze the effects of co-supplementation of CAF and nitrates on sports performance in comparison to the isolated ingestion of these substances.
Methods:
The databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, CiNAHL and SPORTDiscus were used until June 2024 following PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled trials, at least one single-blind trial, conducted in adults were considered. A meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model to calculate the standardized mean difference estimated by Hedges' g and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for studies with four arms.
Results:
Six studies were included (N = 95). The meta-analysis revealed that caffeine and nitrates supplementation (CAF+nitrates) did not enhance performance in time trials (TTs) over the CAF alone (g = -0.06; 95% CI = -0.46 to 0.35; p = 0.78) or nitrates alone (g = 0.29; 95% CI = -0.12 to 0.70; p = 0.17). CAF+nitrates did not affect heart rate during submaximal exercise trials over CAF alone (g = 0.04; 95% CI = -0.31 to 0.40; p = 0.80) or nitrates alone (g = -0.15; 95% CI = -0.50 to 0.20; p = 0.40). Likewise, CAF+nitrates did not affect oxygen uptake during submaximal exercise trials over CAF alone (g = -0.04; 95% CI = -0.45 to 0.37; p = 0.84) or nitrates alone (g = -0.29; 95% CI = -0.70 to 0.12; p = 0.16).
Conclusions:
CAF+nitrates did not offer further benefits on exercise performance or physiological variables from the isolated intake of CAF and nitrates.
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