Creatine and Caffeine: Considerations for Concurrent Supplementation.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the ergogenic potential of caffeine in high-intensity exercise and compare its effects when consumed as coffee versus caffeine anhydrous.
Results Summary
The study found that caffeine improves endurance exercise performance but has mixed results for strength and sprint performance. There is conflicting evidence on whether coffee and caffeine anhydrous have similar ergogenic effects.
Population
Athletes
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
Possible interaction with creatine, potentially blunting its ergogenic effects.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
creatine supplementation | increase | strength and power | athletes | - | consistent improvements | #1 |
caffeine | increase | endurance exercise performance | - | - | improve | #2 |
caffeine | no change | strength and sprint performance | - | - | mixed results | #3 |
caffeine ingestion | decrease | ergogenic effect of creatine | - | - | may blunt | #4 |
Nutritional supplementation is a common practice among athletes, with creatine and caffeine among the most commonly used ergogenic aids. Hundreds of studies have investigated the ergogenic potential of creatine supplementation, with consistent improvements in strength and power reported for exercise bouts of short duration (≤ 30 s) and high intensity. Caffeine has been shown to improve endurance exercise performance, but results are mixed in the context of strength and sprint performance. Further, there is conflicting evidence from studies comparing the ergogenic effects of coffee and caffeine anhydrous supplementation. Previous research has identified independent mechanisms by which creatine and caffeine may improve strength and sprint performance, leading to the formulation of multi-ingredient supplements containing both ingredients. Although scarce, research has suggested that caffeine ingestion may blunt the ergogenic effect of creatine. While a pharmacokinetic interaction is unlikely, authors have suggested that this effect may be explained by opposing effects on muscle relaxation time or gastrointestinal side effects from simultaneous consumption. The current review aims to evaluate the ergogenic potential of creatine and caffeine in the context of high-intensity exercise. Research directly comparing coffee and caffeine anhydrous is discussed, along with previous studies evaluating the concurrent supplementation of creatine and caffeine.