1. Introduction
Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the western
world. In addition to being a CNS stimulant, it has a variety of peripheral
effects relating to muscle contraction, diuresis, gastric secretion, and
lipolysis. The average US citizen consumes 206 mg of caffeine daily (the
equivalent of about two cups of coffee), and 10% of the adult population
ingests more than 1000 mg of caffeine daily
1. Despite this, there are
many significant gaps in our understanding of the effects caffeine has on
various systems
2. This article will explore the application caffeine has
for the athlete, as well as a myriad of other effects of caffeine.
Chemically, caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is a member of a class of
drugs known as methylxanthines. The primary pharmacological effect of caffeine
is selective antagonism of the adenosine A1 and A2A receptors
3-4. Adenosine
is a cellular constituent that modulates the release and activity of a variety
of neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine, acetylcholine, dopamine,
and GABA. It primarily inhibits the release of excitatory neurotransmitters,
so increased concentrations of adenosine reduce arousal and suppress spontaneous
behavioral activity
3. Adenosine concentrations slowly increase during
wakefulness, so adenosine antagonism is what causes caffeine's wake-promoting
effect. Other effects of caffeine include inhibition of phosphodiesterase
(PDE), GABA-A blockade, and mobilization of intracellular calcium. The relevance
of these effects at normal doses is debatable.
After ingestion, caffeine is absorbed into the blood and other body tissues
within 5 minutes, and peak concentration is reached in about half an hour,
and the half-life is approximately 4 hours
5. The ideal dosage for achieving
various goals will be discussed further in the following sections.
2. Caffeine and exercise performance
The beneficial effect caffeine has on endurance exercise is well established,
and has been confirmed in a multitude of studies
3. During submaximal exercise,
caffeine in doses of 3-9 mg/kg (200-900 mg) delays fatigue considerably,
increasing exercise time by 20-50%
3, 6, with the 3-6 mg/kg range appearing
to be ideal
4. Lower doses, such as 1.5 mg/kg, appear to offer at least
some benefit
6. The magnitude of the beneficial effect depends on a variety
of factors, such as type and intensity of exercise (the greatest effect is
seen in exercise lasting 30-120 minutes), previous caffeine use (with greater
and longer lasting effects among nonusers), training status, and individual
variation
3-4, 7. Although many of these studies are conducted in the fasted
state, which does not reflect realistic conditions, the benefit is still
seen in studies in which the subjects are well fed
6. Using caffeine to
improve endurance performance is also quite safe. Doses as high as 10 mg/kg
do not impair thermoregulation during exercise
8, and exercise prevents
the effects caffeine has on diuresis, so hydration status is not compromised
9.
Whether or not caffeine has a benefit for those engaged in short-term, high-intensity
exercise (over 100% VO2max) such as strength training or sprinting is less
clear, although the bulk of the evidence suggests a more modest benefit of
a 10-25% increase in work output
10-11. However, this effect still appears
to be more pronounced in exercise bouts lasting over 60 seconds
10. Few
well-controlled studies have been done assessing whether or not caffeine
has a benefit for strength trainers, but those that have been done have had
positive results
11.
There are a few supplements which caffeine may interact with either positively
or negatively. Caffeine and
carnitine synergistically improve endurance exercise
time
12. The issue of whether or not
caffeine and creatine should be combined is controversial. Two studies indicate
that they may be antagonistic. One study found that caffeine and creatine
have opposing effects on muscle relaxation time
11, but the importance
of this is not clear. Another widely quoted study found that when caffeine
and creatine were co-administered over a period of six days, caffeine prevented
the beneficial effect of creatine
10. On the other hand, when caffeine
is administered acutely before exercise during creatine loading the effect
caffeine has on athletic performance still remains
10. This indicates that
chronic caffeine consumption may interfere with the benefit of creatine,
but that creatine does not interfere with the improvement of exercise performance
from caffeine. Unfortunately, there is not yet enough research to draw any
practical conclusions. It is doubtful that caffeine completely prevents the
action of creatine, as creatine functions through multiple pathways, but
whether or not there will be on balance a greater effect from creatine by
itself or from creatine along with caffeine pre-exercise is unknown.
3. Mechanism of action
A number of mechanisms of action for the ergogenic effect of caffeine have
been proposed in the literature; some hold up to scrutiny while others do
not. The original theory, known as the metabolic theory, was that the effect
was primarily due to mobilization of free fatty acids, which would preferentially
promote fat as a fuel source during exercise and spare muscle glycogen. In
recent years, a multitude of studies have indicated that this is an unlikely
reason for the benefit, and this theory has been rejected
3, 6. A number
of more promising theories have arisen, primarily involving effects on both
the central and peripheral nervous system.
A major role of the central nervous system (CNS) is supported in many ways.
Intracerebroventricular administration of caffeine to rats, which results
in high CNS levels and negligible peripheral levels, increases run time by
60%
3. A primary role of adenosine antagonism is implicated in this area,
since adenosine inhibits the release of dopamine and increases the serotonin/dopamine
ratio, and both of these may play a role in central fatigue during exercise
3. In line with this theory, administration of a selective adenosine agonist
reduced run time to fatigue in rats and caffeine reversed this effect
3.
There are also a variety of ways in which caffeine may improve neuromuscular
function. These include changes in the chemical composition of the muscle's
environment, alteration of feedforward inhibition, or alteration in central
processing of feedforward or feedback
14. This is where potentiation of
calcium release plays a possible role
15-16. In vitro, potentiation of
the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum occurs at levels that
are obtainable in ergogenic doses in humans
15. In line with this, doses
of caffeine from 4 to 7 mg/kg potentiate submaximal skeletal muscle contraction,
with no effect of tolerance
15. This mechanism of action would also explain
why caffeine appears to be more effective at lower exercise intensities,
as the level of calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum is thought
to play an important role in fatigue at these intensities, but not higher
intensities
15. Caffeine may also improve neuromuscular function via adenosine
antagonism. Specifically, it may reduce the inhibitory action adenosine has
on motor neuron firing frequency and raise the frequency of potentials in
the motor end plate through acetylcholine release
16. Finally, it has been
suggested that caffeine reduces fatigue by preventing loss of potassium from
skeletal muscle
10. This would be achieved by increased Na2+/K+ ATPase
activity, leading to increased potassium ion uptake
10. However, there
is little evidence to support this theory at this point.
A final mechanism of action for improvement of exercise performance by caffeine
is analgesia. One of the effects of caffeine on exercise is a lower rating
of perceived exertion (RPE). Caffeine increases the pain threshold and tolerance
to pain
17. It has also specifically been shown to have an analgesic effect
during ischemic muscle contractions
10. This is related to caffeine's ability
to increase the release of beta-endorphins and other hormones and neurotransmitters
that influence perception of pain
10.
4. Caffeine and weight loss
Almost every weight loss pill in the market contains caffeine, and there
is good reason for it. Caffeine has well known thermogenic properties in
humans, increasing the rate of lipolysis and total energy expenditure, and
it also decreases food intake
18-20. However, caffeine by itself rarely
results in statistically significant weight loss unless it is used in high
doses (a gram or more daily). Luckily, there are a variety of substances
that caffeine exhibits potent synergistic relationships with. In addition
to oral administration, clinical studies indicate that caffeine is an effective
topical fat loss agent, especially in "stubborn" areas, when the right carrier
is used
21. This may be a particularly effective route of administration,
since caffeine induces insulin resistance in adipocytes
2.
The mechanisms of action for fat loss are relatively well established. Adenosine
is one of the negative feedback mechanisms that prevents the release of the
lipolytic hormone norepinephrine (NE)
5. Caffeine also inhibits PDE, which
results in higher concentrations of cyclic AMP, and this potentiates the
effect of NE
19. The inhibition of these two negative feedback mechanisms
makes caffeine particularly useful when used in conjunction with an agent
that causes release of NE or other catecholamines.
Caffeine also may exhibit a synergistic relationship with EGCG, a component
of
green tea. This is because EGCG inhibits COMT, an enzyme that breaks down
NE and other catecholamines
22. The combination of caffeine,
carnitine,
and
choline causes fat loss in rats
23. Caffeine together with capsaicin
increases thermogenesis in humans, but it is not known if this was due to
additive or synergistic effects
20. Finally, caffeine and nicotine make
an effective combination for fat loss
18. One study found that 100 mg of
caffeine along with 1 mg of nicotine gum significantly increased thermogenesis
and increased resting metabolic rate by 8.5%. Raising the nicotine dose to
2 mg had little added benefit but significantly increased side effects. Also,
despite the fact that caffeine raises blood pressure, it protects against
the blood pressure raise from nicotine
1. However, the two substances may
potentiate the addictive effect of one another
24. If a synergistic substance
is being used, the ideal dose of caffeine for fat loss seems to be in the
range of 200-400 mg daily, with little added benefit from higher doses.
5. Fatigue, cognitive performance, and sleep
Caffeine, usually in doses in the 150-400 mg range, acutely improves cognitive
function in a multitude of ways. These primarily involve simple intellectual
tasks and rapid information processing
5. Beneficial effects seen from
caffeine include faster typing with fewer errors, improved simple reaction
and choice reaction time, improved performance on simulations of driving
and sentry duty, improved performance on digit symbol substitution and logical
reasoning tasks, improved accuracy of time estimation, and improved cognitive
performance in the post-exercise state
5, 25-28. Chronic or lifetime consumption
of caffeine is associated with improved cognitive function in some studies,
primarily on the elderly
25, 32. However, the effects caffeine has on more
complex tasks are not clear, and caffeine has a negative impact on fine motor
coordination
5, 25.
Caffeine also effectively combats fatigue and the negative effects of sleep
deprivation. Improved cognitive function from caffeine has been demonstrated
for up to 64 hours of sleep deprivation, and one study indicates that it
is as effective as the prescription drug modafinil in increasing alertness
during sleep deprivation
29-30. Improved marksmanship and driving ability
during sleep deprivation have also been demonstrated
5, 31. Caffeine also
reduces cognitive impairment due to benzodiazapenes, alcohol, and illness
25. Numerous effects on sleep itself are also associated with caffeine.
Acute administration increases sleep latency and decreases sleep duration.
One study found that there was an inverse relationship between chronic caffeine
intake and sleep duration, but no relationship with sleep satisfaction
25.
However, three other studies have found no relationship between chronic intake
and sleep variables
25.
An important consideration when discussing cognitive enhancement from caffeine
is the effects of withdrawal. Headache is the most common symptom of caffeine
withdrawal, but other effects noted include irritability, sleepiness, dysphoria,
delerium, nausea, nervousness, restlessness, anxiety, and muscle tension
5, 34. According to some sources, caffeine does not improve cognition in
and of itself, but the improvement seen in studies is due to reversal of
caffeine withdrawal. This is known as the "withdrawal reversal hypothesis."
In support for this hypothesis, studies find greater cognitive improvement
from caffeine in regular users undergoing withdrawal than in nonusers
33.
This would indicate that the withdrawal reversal hypothesis is at least partially
true. However, there are a number of flaws in this hypothesis. First, it
does not account for the behavioral changes seen in animal studies or in
non-consumers. Second, the studies cannot be considered to be blinded, since
users are specifically told to abstain from caffeine. Also, despite the fact
that caffeine withdrawal increases anxiety and depression, few studies indicate
that it significantly decreases cognitive performance, and when it does the
effects are mild
25. Finally, certain individuals may not use caffeine
because it is ineffective in their case (individual response varies considerably),
so the nonusers used in withdrawal reversal studies may be predisposed to
derive little benefit from caffeine to begin with
33.
6. Other effects & precautions
- Hydration status - A common concern is that caffeine will compromise
fluid balance. However, the effect caffeine has is minor, and it goes away
with tolerance. A review of 10 studies found only small differences in fluid
retention with caffeinated beverages (containing 100-680 mg) compared to
an equal amount of water47.
- Cardiovascular - Caffeine (and especially coffee) should be
avoided by those with high blood pressure or at high risk for cardiovascular
disease. Since adenosine is a vasodilator, adenosine antagonism raises blood
pressure5. Tolerance develops to this effect, but it is incomplete26.
Caffeine also raises homocysteine levels, but not as much as coffee48.
In line with these effects, caffeine intake has been associated with increased
risk of heart attack1.
- Insulin resistance - Acute administration of caffeine (the equivalent
of 3-4 cups of coffee, in other words 300-400 mg) causes insulin resistance
in sedentary males with skeletal muscle as a major contributing factor, although
this only occurs in the presence of above normal insulin levels2. Also,
tolerance to this effect develops18. Possible mechanisms of action include
adenosine antagonism in skeletal muscle, increase in FFAs, and increased
epinephrine concentration (the most likely cause, since caffeine-induced
insulin resistance is reversed by the beta blocker propranolol)2, 49.
Caffeine does not impair exercise-induced increases in insulin sensitivity,
indicating that the effects are independent of one another2. Although
caffeine significantly improves athletic performance, if one is trying to
gain appreciable amounts of muscle mass, using large doses of caffeine pre-workout
may not be a good idea as inhibition of muscle glucose uptake may be counterproductive
to that goal.
- Anxiety/stress - Large doses of caffeine (over 300 mg) promote
anxiety, but this effect does not cross over to small doses except in select
individuals (such as caffeine naive individuals, in which even 150 mg can
be anxiogenic, or those with anxiety sensitivity)17, 25, 50. Lower doses
are usually neutral or decrease anxiety25. Also, exercise is antagonistic
towards caffeine-induced anxiogenesis51. Chronic daily intake of over
1000 mg daily is associated with chronic anxiety or "caffeinism," but causality
has not been determined – it could be that anxiety leads to high caffeine
intake, and not vice versa25. Those who easily become anxious should avoid
caffeine.
- Tolerance & addiction - It is clear that tolerance does
not develop to all of the effects of caffeine. According to one study, tolerance
develops to the peripheral effects but not the central ones, while another
study found that tolerance to both central and peripheral effects was incomplete
26. There is at least some degree of CNS tolerance, as regular caffeine
administration causes upregulation of adenosine receptors in the brain4.
It takes about 20 hours for caffeine tolerance to wear off26. Caffeine
is also addictive, but chronic caffeine use is generally regarded as safe
except in select populations. Of more concern is that caffeine can potentiate
the addictive effect of other drugs by increasing dopamine receptor sensitivity
52.
- Bone density - Caffeine is associated with lower bone mineral
density, especially in elderly women. However, there is no association if
calcium intake is over 75% of the RDA57.
- Drug combinations - A number of drugs that inhibit the enzymes
that metabolize caffeine may have negative interactions with caffeine. These
include fluvoxamine, mexiletine, clozapine, psoralens, idrocilamide, phenylpropanolamine,
furafylline, theophylline, and enoxacin53-54. Caffeine should also be
used with caution when combined with large doses of other stimulants. Additionally,
caffeine can exacerbate kidney and liver toxicity from some substances such
as acetaminophen and alcohol55-56, but this primarily becomes an issue
when these substances are used in excess.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this article, please email
dvdtlsn@bulknutrition.com.
No part of this article may be reproduced in any form without the permission of David Tolson or Mike McCandless.