Influence of caffeine and sodium citrate ingestion on 1,500-m exercise performance in elite wheelchair athletes: a pilot study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether caffeine, alone or combined with sodium citrate, enhances 1,500-m exercise performance in elite wheelchair athletes.
Results Summary
The study found no significant difference in 1,500-m completion time between caffeine, sodium citrate, their combination, and placebo. However, caffeine increased maximal lactate concentrations compared to placebo.
Population
Elite wheelchair-racing athletes (T53/54 category), including national team members and Paralympic/World/European Championship medalists.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
caffeine | no change | 1,500-m exercise performance | elite wheelchair athletes | no significant difference | did not provide an ergogenic effect | #1 |
sodium citrate | no change | 1,500-m exercise performance | elite wheelchair athletes | no significant difference | did not provide an ergogenic effect | #2 |
combination of caffeine and sodium citrate | no change | 1,500-m exercise performance | elite wheelchair athletes | no significant difference | did not provide an ergogenic effect | #3 |
sodium citrate ingestion | increase | pH | elite wheelchair athletes | - | significantly increased | #4 |
sodium citrate ingestion | increase | bicarbonate concentrations | elite wheelchair athletes | - | significantly increased | #5 |
caffeine treatment | increase | maximal lactate concentrations | elite wheelchair athletes | - | significantly higher | #6 |
combination treatment | increase | maximal lactate concentrations | elite wheelchair athletes | - | significantly higher | #7 |
The aim of this study was to investigate whether caffeine and/or sodium citrate have an ergogenic effect on the 1,500-m exercise performance in elite wheelchair athletes. A placebo-controlled, randomized, cross-over and double-blind study design was conducted with the four treatments placebo, caffeine, sodium citrate and the combination of caffeine and sodium citrate. Nine healthy, elite wheelchair-racing athletes (median: [min; max] age: 28 y [23; 54]; height: 173 cm [165; 188]; weight: 62.9 kg [48.9; 68.4], category T53/54) completed the study. All athletes were national team members, including several Paralympic Games, World and European Championship medalists. The athletes performed a 1,500-m time trial four times on a wheelchair training roller. Time to complete 1,500-m, pH, bicarbonate and sodium concentration as well as lactate concentration were measured. The time to complete 1,500-m was not significantly different between the four treatments (placebo: 170.6 s [141.7; 232.0]; caffeine: 179.5 s [134.8; 239.6]; sodium citrate: 178.3 s [136.4; 247.1]; combination: 177.6 s [136.1; 256.2]). However, pH and bicarbonate concentrations were significantly increased with sodium citrate ingestion compared with placebo. Moreover, maximal lactate concentrations were significantly higher in the caffeine and the combination treatment compared with placebo. The supplementation with sodium citrate and/or caffeine did not provide an ergogenic effect on the 1,500-m exercise performance in wheelchair elite athletes.