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Are low doses of caffeine as ergogenic as higher doses? A critical review highlighting the need for comparison with current best practice in caffeine research.

Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
January 1, 2019
Craig Pickering et al. (2 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Extracted Claims (3)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
caffeine doses of 3 to 6 mg/kg
increase
performance benefit
most people
-
represents the optimal dose
#1
lower (≤3 mg/kg) caffeine doses
increase
performance
-
-
are also ergogenic
#2
low caffeine doses
increase
performance
-
-
do appear to bestow ergogenic effects
#3
Abstract

Caffeine is a popular and widely consumed sporting ergogenic aid. Over the years, the effects of different caffeine doses have been researched, with the general consensus being that 3 to 6 mg/kg of caffeine represents the optimal dose for most people. Recently, there has been increased attention placed on lower (≤3 mg/kg) caffeine doses, with some research suggesting these doses are also ergogenic. However, a critical consideration for athletes is not merely whether caffeine is ergogenic at a given dose, but whether the consumed dose provides an optimized performance benefit. Following this logic, the aim of this review was to identify a potential oversight in the current research relating to the efficacy of lower caffeine doses. Although low caffeine doses do appear to bestow ergogenic effects, these effects have not been adequately compared with the currently accepted best practice dose of 3 to 6 mg/kg. This methodological oversight limits the practical conclusions we can extract from the research into the efficacy of lower doses of caffeine, as the relative ergogenic benefits between low and recommended doses remains unclear. Here, we examine existing research with a critical eye, and provide recommendations both for those looking to use caffeine to enhance their performance, and those conducting research into caffeine and sport.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Athletic PerformanceBenchmarkingCaffeineCentral Nervous System StimulantsDose-Response Relationship, DrugHumansPerformance-Enhancing SubstancesPhysical Endurance
Study Links
Citation Metrics
Total Citations21
Citations/Year3.5
Relative Citation Ratio2.07
NIH Percentile75.6%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
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