Effect of Caffeine Supplementation on Sports Performance Based on Differences Between Sexes: A Systematic Review

Most studies that have shown the positive effects of caffeine supplementation on sports performance have been carried out on men. However, the differences between sexes are evident in terms of body size, body composition, and hormonal functioning, which might cause different outcomes on performance...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Juan Mielgo-Ayuso, Diego Marques-Jiménez, Ignacio Refoyo, Juan Del Coso, Patxi León-Guereño, Julio Calleja-González
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-09-01
Series:Nutrients
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/10/2313
id doaj-585a83a1a5384e5192b50b7544ed3778
record_format Article
spelling doaj-585a83a1a5384e5192b50b7544ed37782020-11-25T01:48:11ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432019-09-011110231310.3390/nu11102313nu11102313Effect of Caffeine Supplementation on Sports Performance Based on Differences Between Sexes: A Systematic ReviewJuan Mielgo-Ayuso0Diego Marques-Jiménez1Ignacio Refoyo2Juan Del Coso3Patxi León-Guereño4Julio Calleja-González5Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, 42004 Soria, SpainAcademy Department, Deportivo Alavés SAD, 01007 Vitoria-Gasteiz, SpainDepartment of Sports, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (INEF), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainCentre for Sport Studies. Rey Juan Carlos University, 28943 Fuenlabrada, SpainFaculty of Psychology and Education, University of Deusto, Campus of Donostia-San Sebastián, 20012 San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa, SpainLaboratory of Human Performance, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Education, Sports Section, University of the Basque Country, 01007 Vitoria, SpainMost studies that have shown the positive effects of caffeine supplementation on sports performance have been carried out on men. However, the differences between sexes are evident in terms of body size, body composition, and hormonal functioning, which might cause different outcomes on performance for the same dosage of caffeine intake in men vs. women. The main aim of this systematic review was to analyze and compare the effects of caffeine intake between men and women on sports performance to provide a source of knowledge to sports practitioners and coaches, especially for those working with women athletes, on the use of caffeine as an ergogenic aid. A structured search was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in the Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases until 28 July 2019. The search included studies in which the effects of caffeine supplementation on athletic performance were compared between sexes and to an identical placebo situation (dose, duration and timing). No filters were applied for participants’ physical fitness level or age. A total of 254 articles were obtained in the initial search. When applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the final sample was 10 articles. The systematic review concluded that four investigations (100% of the number of investigations on this topic) had not found differences between sexes in terms of caffeine supplementation on aerobic performance and 3/3 (100%) on the fatigue index. However, four out of seven articles (57.1%) showed that the ergogenicity of caffeine for anaerobic performance was higher in men than women. In particular, it seems that men are able to produce more power, greater total weight lifted and more speed with the same dose of caffeine than women. In summary, caffeine supplementation produced a similar ergogenic benefit for aerobic performance and the fatigue index in men and women athletes. Nevertheless, the effects of caffeine to produce more power, total weight lifted and to improve sprint performance with respect to a placebo was higher in men than women athletes despite the same dose of caffeine being administered. Thus, the ergogenic effect of acute caffeine intake on anaerobic performance might be higher in men than in women.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/10/2313recoverystrengthpowersprint performancemenstrual cycle
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Juan Mielgo-Ayuso
Diego Marques-Jiménez
Ignacio Refoyo
Juan Del Coso
Patxi León-Guereño
Julio Calleja-González
spellingShingle Juan Mielgo-Ayuso
Diego Marques-Jiménez
Ignacio Refoyo
Juan Del Coso
Patxi León-Guereño
Julio Calleja-González
Effect of Caffeine Supplementation on Sports Performance Based on Differences Between Sexes: A Systematic Review
Nutrients
recovery
strength
power
sprint performance
menstrual cycle
author_facet Juan Mielgo-Ayuso
Diego Marques-Jiménez
Ignacio Refoyo
Juan Del Coso
Patxi León-Guereño
Julio Calleja-González
author_sort Juan Mielgo-Ayuso
title Effect of Caffeine Supplementation on Sports Performance Based on Differences Between Sexes: A Systematic Review
title_short Effect of Caffeine Supplementation on Sports Performance Based on Differences Between Sexes: A Systematic Review
title_full Effect of Caffeine Supplementation on Sports Performance Based on Differences Between Sexes: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Effect of Caffeine Supplementation on Sports Performance Based on Differences Between Sexes: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Caffeine Supplementation on Sports Performance Based on Differences Between Sexes: A Systematic Review
title_sort effect of caffeine supplementation on sports performance based on differences between sexes: a systematic review
publisher MDPI AG
series Nutrients
issn 2072-6643
publishDate 2019-09-01
description Most studies that have shown the positive effects of caffeine supplementation on sports performance have been carried out on men. However, the differences between sexes are evident in terms of body size, body composition, and hormonal functioning, which might cause different outcomes on performance for the same dosage of caffeine intake in men vs. women. The main aim of this systematic review was to analyze and compare the effects of caffeine intake between men and women on sports performance to provide a source of knowledge to sports practitioners and coaches, especially for those working with women athletes, on the use of caffeine as an ergogenic aid. A structured search was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in the Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases until 28 July 2019. The search included studies in which the effects of caffeine supplementation on athletic performance were compared between sexes and to an identical placebo situation (dose, duration and timing). No filters were applied for participants’ physical fitness level or age. A total of 254 articles were obtained in the initial search. When applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the final sample was 10 articles. The systematic review concluded that four investigations (100% of the number of investigations on this topic) had not found differences between sexes in terms of caffeine supplementation on aerobic performance and 3/3 (100%) on the fatigue index. However, four out of seven articles (57.1%) showed that the ergogenicity of caffeine for anaerobic performance was higher in men than women. In particular, it seems that men are able to produce more power, greater total weight lifted and more speed with the same dose of caffeine than women. In summary, caffeine supplementation produced a similar ergogenic benefit for aerobic performance and the fatigue index in men and women athletes. Nevertheless, the effects of caffeine to produce more power, total weight lifted and to improve sprint performance with respect to a placebo was higher in men than women athletes despite the same dose of caffeine being administered. Thus, the ergogenic effect of acute caffeine intake on anaerobic performance might be higher in men than in women.
topic recovery
strength
power
sprint performance
menstrual cycle
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/10/2313
work_keys_str_mv AT juanmielgoayuso effectofcaffeinesupplementationonsportsperformancebasedondifferencesbetweensexesasystematicreview
AT diegomarquesjimenez effectofcaffeinesupplementationonsportsperformancebasedondifferencesbetweensexesasystematicreview
AT ignaciorefoyo effectofcaffeinesupplementationonsportsperformancebasedondifferencesbetweensexesasystematicreview
AT juandelcoso effectofcaffeinesupplementationonsportsperformancebasedondifferencesbetweensexesasystematicreview
AT patxileonguereno effectofcaffeinesupplementationonsportsperformancebasedondifferencesbetweensexesasystematicreview
AT juliocallejagonzalez effectofcaffeinesupplementationonsportsperformancebasedondifferencesbetweensexesasystematicreview
_version_ 1725012373350121472