Sports performance
Potential mechanisms
Until recently, caffeine’s ergogenic effects were thought to be due to caffeine’s ability to increase levels of circulating free fatty acids in the body, which helps spare muscle glycogen stores as the fatty acids are used for energy. However, several other mechanisms are now under investigation.
Caffeine may increase adrenalin production in endurance sports
Recent research has concluded that caffeine affects endurance performance via a pathway that leads to an increased production of adrenalin, which stimulates energy production and improves blood flow to the muscles and the heart1. Caffeine may modulate fatigue and influence ratings of exertion, perceived pain and energy levels, all of which are likely to lead to improvements in performance.
Caffeine’s effects on anaerobic exercise still under investigation
A recent review8 has concluded that current theories do not wholly account for caffeine’s effect on short-term anaerobic exercise.
As more studies are carried out, it appears that the mechanisms behind the effects of caffeine on both aerobic and anaerobic exercise seem to be moving in the same direction. Research to date points to the adenosine antagonist (a pathway that leads to an increased production of adrenalin, which stimulates energy production and improves blood flow to the muscles and heart) as the most likely mechanism behind caffeine’s effects1,4,9.
