The Influence of Caffeine Supplementation on Specific Performance and Training Activities

Caffeine (CAF) is often proposed as an ergogenic agent, especially during high‐intensity efforts. CAF supplementation may reduce effort‐induced multi‐faceted symptoms of fatigue and can improve psychomotor functions (like agility or decision‐making processes), which is required during the intermittent high‐intensity efforts in combat sports and speed‐strength disciplines. Moreover, it is suggested that CAF treatment is associated with increased glycolytic activity during simulated or real training/competition bouts, which results in performance and physical capacity improvement. However, there are hardly any data on the individual CAF‐induced and dose‐dependent changes in physical capacity and discipline‐specific performance in combat sports and speed‐strength disciplines. Therefore, the study aims to examine the effect of acute, different‐dose CAF ingestion on physical capacity and discipline‐specific performance in combat sports and speed‐strength athletes, in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover trial.