The Effect of Caffeine Ingestion - Report Example

The Effect of Caffeine Ingestion on Peak Power Wingate Test Performance Name: Institution: Abstract Caffeine has been regarded as among the best plant stimulants sourced from coffee, tea, and cocoa among others. Other than being a socially accepted ‘legal’ drug, caffeine, when ingested into the stomach get absorbed very fast and within a maximum of 2 hours peaks high into the blood and alter the functionality of the body system. This study seeks to investigate and analyze the effect of caffeine on the body performance during an event or exercise and to come up with reliable conclusion about its effects particularly during peak performance. With comparison with placebo, a Power Wingate test performance aided the process, with the mean and the maximum power registered on candidates, Alex, Anna, Bruno, Carla, John, Marijan, Vivian, and Zoe during a cycling exercise. The mean and the peak powers were registered on each candidate upon taking either of the caffeine or placebo tablets as the cycling exercise progressed. The study realized that the mean power of each candidate as the exercise progressed showed a significant gap as they steadied into their peak performance within 45 seconds of quick cycling. With the introduction, methodology and the discussion, this study ascertains the positive relationship between the caffeine and endurance exercise performance. Introduction The interest of sports and exercise is the achievement of the maximum strength and performance that the human athleticism can offer. Being a body function, performance endurance is also a function of adrenaline and the muscles to produce a substantial energy that can be measured into performance. In this case, stimulation of adrenaline has a direct effect on the functionality of the muscles which on the other hand activates the energy needed for a specific exercise (Debry, 2004). Although it lacks nutritional value, caffeine has been used as a body stimulant and has been suggested by many studies to enhance endurance of body performance during particular exercises. With the stimulating effects, caffeine is potential in stimulating the release of adrenaline into the blood stream. Adrenaline on the other hand stimulates the release of the free fatty acids in the fat tissues and other muscles such as the skeleton muscles (Burke, 2013). At the initial stages of an exercise, these extra fats are used and signal the body reduces the use of glycogen. This enables the performance of an individual to last for a relatively longer duration (Anderson, 2013). Despite the fact that some studies do not support caffeine’s diuretic attribute, recent studies have actually proven that ingestion of caffeine before an exercise improves performance endurance. According to Greenwood, Kalman, & Antonio (2008), caffeine improves performances in events that take short durations through a four neuromuscular effects; facilitation of nerve impulse transmission, speeding up of ion transport within the muscles, changing the excitation contraction coupling, and lowering the threshold for muscle recruitment. This does not dispute its characteristic delay for fatigue through reduction of the athlete’s perception of effort. In more physiological sense, the effects of caffeine reduce pain perception, changes moods, and create sense of well-being (Debry, 2004). Many studies have shown that there is significant increase in performance in many endurance disciplines after caffeine ingestion. In one study, a treadmill run by some athletes showed an improved time in the treadmill with caffeine to exhaustion by 1.9% (Teller, 2010). In another study, caffeine boosted time to exhaustion in cycling test by about 15 minutes. In one more particular swimming exercise, a maximum effort swims performance of up to 25 minutes duration was found to be enhanced by caffeine. To crown it all, a recent study investigated the effect of consuming caffeine sport drink on the performance in a warm environment. In this case, a couple of cyclists pedaled for three trials. The subjects pedaled for a recorded 135 minutes and made 60% and 70% vo2max every 15 minute in the initial 120 minutes and a 25 minutes drive (Burke, 2013). In one of the trials, they consumed flavored water drink, another they consumed carbohydrate drink, and in the other they consumed a caffeinated sport drink. It was noted that after the trials, maximum strength was found to be 2/3 less for the caffeinated drink than the other beverages. Just as Burke (2013) noted, in most cases however, the mechanisms of these studies were unclear with other studies citing the diuretic effects of the caffeine ingestion as a negative impact on the performance of an individual athlete. With the contrasting ideas about the caffeine ingestions and performance, this study, through comparison of caffeine and placebo, sought to analyze the effect of caffeine ingestion on peak power using a Wingate test performance. Using eight subjects as the participants, the study purposed to ascertain the mean power in watts in performance through ingestion of caffeine visa-a-vie placebo, and also to compare their effects on performances during peak powers. With the methods, results, and discussion, this study introduced a practical examination and analysis of the effects of the caffeine on performance endurance in the field of sports and nutrition. The rationale of the study was therefore to produce reliable information that can be used for other related studies in the same field of study. Method Through a comprehensive analysis of their performance, the peak and the mean performance of the participants; Alex, Anna, Bruno, Carla, John, Marijan, Vivian, and Zoe were recorded and later analyzed as shown below. The counter ingestion of the two products, placebo and caffeine, provided a perfect comparison of their effects into the body and on performance and this suited the study’s interest in uncovering its topic of interest. The nature of the testing protocol of the study was characteristically a two-trial based, with each product given one week to analyze its effects on performance on every participant. The participants were also characteristically athletic and every one of them was perfectly fit physically for the test. In order to accurately determine the extents of the important variables, the procedure of the Wingate testing went through the following steps; i. Tablets(either placebo or caffiene) taken 1 hour before exercise. ii. 2 minute warm up keeping watts above 70 watts iii. 45 second wingate cycle as quick as possible. iv. Testing done 2 weeks in a row. (either placebo tablet or caffiene tablet) v. Tablets kept unknown. With the existing literature in the same field, this study aimed at utilizing analytical techniques of research in respect to the effects of caffeine ingestion on performance. These techniques were also used to assess the relative magnitude of the caffeine effects on the body through exercises timed at mean and peak powers of performances among different participants (subjects). The recorded peak and mean power of the Wingate test were then analyzed using graphs and presented for analysis purposes in order to ascertain the differences in their effects on performance. According to McArdle, et all. (2010), an in-depth accuracy is achieved using the exploratory and analytical techniques of research as mentioned above to ensure that the possible limitations to the study were minimized. This idea was very crucial in helping the study to pursue its objectives and purpose. The following results were obtained from the performance test of caffeine and placebo ingestions. Results After the ingestion of either caffeine or placebo into the body, the mean power of active performance within the allocated 45 seconds for every participant was recorded as shown in table 1, with the peak power conversely recorded at the maximum powerful Wingate cycles. Table 1: The mean and the peak power performance of the Wingate test Mean Power (w)   Peak Power Subjects Placebo Caffeine   Placebo Caffeine Alex 499 511 Alex 827 942 Anna 347 360 Anna 566 578 Bruno 523 513 Bruno 1131 1066 Carla 355 355 Carla 681 764 John 562 593 John 1123 928 Marijan 474 560 Marijan 1067 981 Vivian 271 244 Vivian 423 443 Zoe 290 309 Zoe 458 495 The result of the mean and the peak performance as a result of ingestion of caffeine and placebo by every participant were plotted in a graph and represented as shown in graphs 1 and 2 below. Graph 1: A graph of mean power performances of the participants (in watts) Graph 2: A graph of peak power perfomanceof the participants in watts. Discussion According to the findings above, it is evidently true that ingestion of caffeine into the body before an exercise improves performance concentration, power, and endurance. The mean power of performance of the participants ranged from 271 to 562 in watts for placebo, while the mean power performance of the participants after ingestion of caffeine ranged from 244 to 593. John had the highest mean performance of 562 and 593 after consuming placebo and caffeine respectively, with Vivian having the lowest mean power performances in both cases. The peak power performance was marked with tremendous differences, with participants performances ranging from 423 to 1131 in watts and 443 to 1066 watts after consumption of placebo and caffeine respectively. In the last case, the high performing participants, John, Bruno, Marijan and Alex who had 593,513, 560, and 511watts respectively showed a reduced peak power performance in the caffeine column at 928, 1066, 981, and 942 watts respectively. This was an indication that maximum strength is attained at some lesser degree of performance after ingestion of caffeine than other drinks like placebo. This finding also prove the fact that although they is a marked improvement on performance among the participants during peak conditions of performance, the effects of caffeine enables a participant to spend a relatively less energy, but can perform for a long duration of time. The graphs show the relationship and the variability of performance among the participants of their recorded mean and peak power performances. They also clearly show the reduced performances at peak powers for the caffeine compared to placebo. It is evidently clear therefore that caffeinated drinks enhance performances at minimized energy lasting for longer durations. In the end, the participants after ingestion of caffeine will complete the Wingate test with some extra energy than during other trials. In this case therefore the rating of the perceived exertion was actually lower with the caffeine than with placebo. The findings on this study shows a direct and perfect agreement with other past studies which have in most cases showed a direct relationship between caffeine ingestion and performance endurances and concentrations. Just like deep chemical analytic reports suggest that the rate of exogenous carbohydrate oxidation is some percentage higher in athletes (for instance cyclists) receiving caffeinated drinks than those receiving other drinks without caffeine, so does this study proves the increased rate of performance within a range of a period for participants taking caffeine (Marriott, 2004). Chemically, caffeine improves the rate of glucose absorption in the body and thus provides the fuel to the muscles working in a quicker rate than normal. The most important aspect of caffeine therefore is its ability to induce performance and working harder for relatively longer duration before a fatigue gets the best of an individual. Despite the effectiveness of caffeine in enhancing performances, it has been proven diuretic by increasing urine production. For every performer, dehydration during exercise can limit their performance rate and with other side effects of caffeine ingestions into the body, some of the limitations of this study were associated to its inability to ascertain these some of these effects (Marriott, 2004). In this case therefore, the study recommends further studies on the side-effects of the caffeinated drinks, particularly on an athlete whose performance rate is very important. In conclusion, based on the findings and discussion, the stimulating effects of caffeine to the body go beyond chemical characteristic components of the resultant effects n the body. Caffeine, a socially accepted drug, is capable of inducing performance concentration, energy in the body, and activates metabolism of the body to adapt to strenuous exercise for a longer duration. The growing evidence of effective and positive performance of caffeine has stimulated the search for other alternative mechanisms. However, caffeine is a sure test of performance activator on exercise performance. Other than the associated health problems that it might cause, this is not compared to effects of other drugs into the body, especially into the body of an athlete. References Anderson, O. (2013). Running science. Burke, L. (2013). Caffeine for sports performance. Caffeine for the sustainment of mental task performance: Formulations for military operations. (2001). Washington, D.C: National Academy Press. Debry, G. (2004). Coffee and health. Paris: John Libbey Eurotext. Greenwood, M., Kalman, D., & Antonio, J. (2008). Nutritional supplements in sports and exercise. Totowa, N.J: Humana. Hathcock, J. N. (2007). Nutritional Toxicology Volume 2. Oxford: Elsevier Science. Marriott, B. M. (2004). Food components to enhance performance: An evaluation of potential performance-enhancing food components for operational rations. Washington, DC: National Acad. Press. McArdle, W. D., Katch, F. I., & Katch, V. L. (2006). Essentials of exercise physiology. Baltimore, Mar: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. McArdle, W. D., Katch, F. I., & Katch, V. L. (2010). Exercise physiology: Nutrition, energy, and human performance. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Preedy, V. R., & Royal Society of Chemistry (Great Britain). (2012). Caffeine: Chemistry, analysis, function and effects. Cambridge, U.K: Royal Society of Chemistry. Snel, J. (2008). Nicotine, caffeine and social drinking: Behaviour and brain function. Amsterdam [u.a.: OPA [u.a. Teller, R. (2010). Natural health, peak performance, longevity lifestyle. Seattle, Wash.: 1Vigor. Workshop on Caffeine Formulations for Sustainment of Mental Task Performance During Military Operations. (2001). Caffeine for the sustainment of mental task performance: Formulations for military operations. Washington, D.C: National Academy Press. Read More