Sublingual Caffeine Supplementation on Physical Performance in United States Military Personnel
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to (1) measure the effects of sublingual caffeine ingestion on physical performance and perceptions of fatigue in highly fit military personnel and (2) measure the effects of sublingual caffeine ingestion on neuromuscular function, specifically reaction time following physically demanding work common to military personnel operating in the field. Results of this pilot study indicate that no difference occurred in the outcomes measured in subjects at baseline, placebo, or treatment groups. Although subjects may have differed in physical ability, each subject served as his/her own control, which is accounted for in the linear mixed model analysis. The results of this study show that caffeine at low doses (i.e., 6 mg/kg bodyweight) does not negatively impact physical or neuromuscular performance outcomes, even after engaging in muscle-fatiguing exercise (i.e., pullups, pushups, weighted vest walking test). Subjects showed consistent performance across all three groups and had similar responses (i.e., pushups in round 1 were greater than rounds 2 and 3 both pre- and post-treadmill walking). Consistent with previous investigations, future research may include use of sublingual caffeine throughout exercise and differing doses of caffeine (i.e., 9 mg/kg bodyweight), based upon the results of this investigation. Additionally, this study may benefit from adding more subjects and controlling for fitness, hydration, and the time interval between visits.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 14, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1054913
Entities
People
- Reginald B. O'hara