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Effects of caffeine supplementation on muscle endurance, maximum strength, and perceived exertion in adults submitted to strength training: a systematic review and meta-analyses.

Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
January 1, 2021
Taís Tavares Ferreira et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleMeta-AnalysisSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Extracted Claims (6)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
caffeine supplementation
increase
strength resistance
healthy adults
WMD 0.87 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.33, 1.41) repetitions
improved
#1
caffeine supplementation
increase
maximum strength
healthy adults
WMD 2.01 (95% CI: 0.20, 3.80) kg
improved
#2
caffeine supplementation
no change
ratings of perceived exertion (RPE)
healthy adults
SMD -0.45 (95% CI: -1.40, 0.48)
showed no effect
#3
caffeine supplementation
no change
muscle endurance
healthy adults
WMD: 1.24 (95% CI: -0.21, 2.70) repetitions
no significant improvement were observed
#4
caffeine supplementation
no change
maximum strength
healthy adults
WMD 8.49 (95% CI: -11.91, 28.90) kg
no significant improvement were observed
#5
caffeine supplementation
no change
ratings of perceived exertion (RPE)
healthy adults
SMD -0.17 (95% CI: -1.62, 1.27)
no significant improvement were observed
#6
Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effects of caffeine supplementation on muscle endurance, maximum strength, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) in individuals undergoing strength training with external resistance exercises. A search of three databases (PubMed, LiLACS, and CENTRAL) and gray literature was carried out to find randomized controlled trials, with a double-blind design, which investigated the effects of caffeine supplementation in healthy adults. Meta-analyses of weighted mean differences (WMD) and standardized mean differences (SMD) between caffeine and placebo groups from individual studies were performed using a random-effects model. Nineteen studies were included in the quantitative synthesis. Only the bench press and the leg press exercises were assessed in a sufficient number of studies to be included in meta-analyses. In the bench press exercise, caffeine supplementation improved strength resistance (WMD 0.87 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.33, 1.41) repetitions, P = 0.001; 15 studies), and maximum strength (WMD 2.01 (95% CI: 0.20, 3.80) kg, P = 0.02; 7 studies), but showed no effect in RPE (SMD -0.45 (95% CI: -1.40, 0.48), P = 0.34, 7 studies) In the leg press exercise, no significant improvement were observed in muscle endurance (WMD: 1.24 (95% CI: -0.21, 2.70) repetitions, P = 0.09, 8 studies), maximum strength (WMD 8.49 (95% CI: -11.91, 28.90) kg, P = 0.415, 3 studies), and in RPE (SMD -0.17 (95% CI: -1.62, 1.27), P = 0.812, 3 studies). Caffeine supplementation showed a significant ergogenic effect on muscle endurance and maximum strength in the bench press exercise. More investigations are needed to clarify the contradictions in its effects regarding lower-body exercises.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultCaffeineDietary SupplementsHumansMuscle StrengthMusclesPhysical EndurancePhysical ExertionRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicResistance Training
Study Links
Citation Metrics
Total Citations22
Citations/Year5.5
Relative Citation Ratio3.17
NIH Percentile86.1%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
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