Effect of isolated and combined ingestion of caffeine and citrulline malate on resistance exercise and jumping performance: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
isolated caffeine ingestion | increase | strength in 1RM bench press | resistance-trained participants | Cohen's d: 0.05-0.06; 2.5-2.7% | significantly enhanced | #1 |
co-ingestion of caffeine and CitMal | increase | strength in 1RM bench press | resistance-trained participants | Cohen's d: 0.05-0.06; 2.5-2.7% | significantly enhanced | #2 |
isolated caffeine ingestion | increase | muscular endurance in the squat | resistance-trained participants | d: 0.46-0.58; 18.6-18.7% | significantly enhanced | #3 |
co-ingestion of caffeine and CitMal | increase | muscular endurance in the squat | resistance-trained participants | d: 0.46-0.58; 18.6-18.7% | significantly enhanced | #4 |
isolated caffeine ingestion | increase | muscular endurance in the bench press | resistance-trained participants | d: 0.48-0.64; 9.3-9.5% | significantly enhanced | #5 |
co-ingestion of caffeine and CitMal | increase | muscular endurance in the bench press | resistance-trained participants | d: 0.48-0.64; 9.3-9.5% | significantly enhanced | #6 |
isolated caffeine ingestion | no change | strength in 1RM bench press | resistance-trained participants | - | no significant difference | #7 |
caffeine co-ingested with CitMal | no change | strength in 1RM bench press | resistance-trained participants | - | no significant difference | #8 |
isolated CitMal supplementation | no change | any outcome | resistance-trained participants | - | did not have an ergogenic effect | #9 |
isolated caffeine ingestion | no change | CMJ-derived variables | resistance-trained participants | - | No main effect of condition was found | #10 |
co-ingestion of caffeine and CitMal | no change | CMJ-derived variables | resistance-trained participants | - | No main effect of condition was found | #11 |
isolated caffeine ingestion | no change | 1RM squat | resistance-trained participants | - | No main effect of condition was found | #12 |
co-ingestion of caffeine and CitMal | no change | 1RM squat | resistance-trained participants | - | No main effect of condition was found | #13 |
isolated caffeine ingestion | no change | pain perception | resistance-trained participants | - | No main effect of condition was found | #14 |
co-ingestion of caffeine and CitMal | no change | pain perception | resistance-trained participants | - | No main effect of condition was found | #15 |
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore the isolated and combined effects of caffeine and citrulline malate (CitMal) on jumping performance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and pain perception in resistance-trained participants. METHODS: Using a randomized and double-blind study design, 35 resistance-trained males (n = 18) and females (n = 17) completed four testing sessions following the ingestion of isolated caffeine (5 mg/kg), isolated CitMal (12 g), combined doses of caffeine and CitMal, and placebo. Supplements were ingested 60 min before performing a countermovement jump (CMJ) test (outcomes included jump height, rate of force development, peak force, and peak power), one-repetition maximum (1RM) squat and bench press, and repetitions to muscular failure in the squat and bench press with 60% of 1RM. Pain perception was evaluated following the repetitions to failure tests. The study was registered at ISRCTN (registration number: ISRCTN11694009). RESULTS: Compared to the placebo condition, isolated caffeine ingestion and co-ingestion of caffeine and CitMal significantly enhanced strength in 1RM bench press (Cohen's d: 0.05-0.06; 2.5-2.7%), muscular endurance in the squat (d: 0.46-0.58; 18.6-18.7%) and bench press (d: 0.48-0.64; 9.3-9.5%). However, there was no significant difference between isolated caffeine ingestion and caffeine co-ingested with CitMal, and isolated CitMal supplementation did not have an ergogenic effect in any outcome. No main effect of condition was found in the analysis for CMJ-derived variables, 1RM squat and pain perception. CONCLUSION: Caffeine ingestion appears to be ergogenic for muscular strength and muscular endurance, while adding CitMal does not seem to further enhance these effects.