Sex differences in the acute effect of caffeine on repeated sprint performance: a randomized controlled trial

This study aimed to examine sex differences in acute caffeine intake on repeated sprint performance. Fifty-two resistance-trained individuals (age: 24.6 +/- 4.5 years and sex (female/male): 26/26) participated in a randomized, triple-blind, cross-over, and placebo-controlled study. Participants inge...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Authors: Pérez López, Alberto|||0000-0003-0220-6240, Garriga Alonso, Laura, Montalvo Alonso, Juan Jesús|||0009-0003-6596-8258, Val Manzano, Marta del, Valadés Cerrato, David|||0000-0002-4709-2390, Vila, Helena, Ferragut Fiol, María del Carmen|||0000-0003-3291-3042
Format: article
Publication Date:2025
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Alcalá (UAH)
Repository:e_Buah Biblioteca Digital Universidad de Alcalá
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:ebuah.uah.es:10017/64107
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10017/64107
https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12233
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Caffeine
Ergogenic substances
Highintensity exercise
Sex-specific response
Sports nutrition
Sports performance
Deportes
Sports
Description
Summary:This study aimed to examine sex differences in acute caffeine intake on repeated sprint performance. Fifty-two resistance-trained individuals (age: 24.6 +/- 4.5 years and sex (female/male): 26/26) participated in a randomized, triple-blind, cross-over, and placebo-controlled study. Participants ingested 3 mg/kg caffeine or placebo and, after 60 min, performed 4 Wingate tests (Wt), consisting of a 30 s all-out lower-body sprint against an individualized resisted load, with 90 s rest periods between sprints. Mean (W-mean) and peak (W-peak) power showed an interaction between sprint and supplement (P = 0.038, eta(p) (2) = 0.095 and P < 0.001, eta(p) (2) = 0.157, respectively), but only W-peak reported a supplement and sex interaction (P = 0.049 and eta(p) (2) = 0.166). Caffeine increased W-mean in Wt3 (3.5%, P = 0.004, and g = 1.059) and Wt4 (3.9%, P = 0.012, and g = 1.091) compared to placebo. Whereas, for W-peak, caffeine increased W-peak in the Wt1 (2.9%, P = 0.050 and g = 1.01) and Wt2 (3.2%, P = 0.050, and g = 1.01) in males and in Wt3 (5.2%, P = 0.008, and g = 1.79) and Wt4 (8.1%, P = 0.004, and g = 2.27) in female participants compared to placebo. No statistically significant sex differences were found in time to reach W-peak, fatigue index. Acute caffeine intake stimulated a similar ergogenic effect on repeated sprint performance in men and women, except in peak power output, where caffeine increased performance during the first sprints in males and the last sprints in female participants.