Effects of Caffeine on Physical and Cognitive Performance: A Brief Review by Daniel Jaffe in SJPBS in Lupinepublishers
Caffeine is one of the most extensively studied and widely
used ergogenic aid capable of improving many aspects of sport
performance and cognitive abilities [1-12]. Some of the acute
effects of caffeine supplementation are increases anaerobic power
output and performance, increased muscular strength, endurance,
and power, improvements to aerobic endurance, reduced fatigue,
decreased RPE and pain, increased voluntary workload, and
increased alertness [1-8]. Chronic caffeine consumption has
also been shown to have a positive effect on long term memory,
locomotor improvements, and overall mood state [9-11]. Some of
the positive effects of athletic performance attributed to caffeine
ingestion can be explained by its ability to moderate insulin
sensitivity, increase plasma free fatty acids (FFAs), and increase
plasma epinephrine [12]. These results demonstrated that caffeine
consumption can allow more glucose and FFAs to be available
in the blood for immediate energy. Furthermore, caffeine has
been shown to increase calcium release from the sarcoplasmic
reticulum of muscle fibers, which could result in increased actinmyosin
binding and therefore increased force production [12].
Some of the acute physical effects of caffeine supplementation are
increases anaerobic power output and performance, increased
muscular strength, endurance and power, improvements to aerobic
endurance, and reduced fatigue [1,3-6,8].
