Caffeine, but not bicarbonate, improves 6 min maximal performance in elite rowers

Jul 8, 2014Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme

Caffeine, but not bicarbonate, improves 6-minute maximum performance in top rowers

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Abstract

Caffeine supplementation resulted in a significant increase in performance distance (1878 ± 97 m) and mean power (400 ± 58 W) in a 6 min maximal performance test among elite rowers.

Performance distance was longer with caffeine (CAF) and caffeine combined with sodium bicarbonate (CAF + SB) compared to the placebo (PLA) and sodium bicarbonate (SB) alone.
Mean power output was higher with CAF and CAF + SB compared to PLA and SB.
Caffeine was more effective in enhancing performance in light-weight rowers than in open-weight rowers.
No significant differences were noted in readiness, stomach comfort before performance, or perceived exertion during performance across different interventions.

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This study examined the ergogenic effects in a 6 min maximal performance test (PT) on 12 elite rowers: 6 open-weight (mean ± SD; 25 ± 1 years, and 92 ± 3 kg) and 6 light-weight (25 ± 3 years, and 73 ± 6 kg), following supplementation with caffeine (CAF), sodium bicarbonate (SB), and the combination of both, in a double-blind randomized placebo (PLA) controlled design. PT was executed on 4 occasions, on separate days within a week, and in a non-fasted state, with standardized training being performed the day before PT. Protocols were as follows: (i) CAF, 3 mg/kg, 45 min prior to PT + calcium as SB-PLA; (ii) SB, 0.3 g/kg, 75 min prior to PT + dextrose as CAF-PLA; (iii) CAF + SB; and (iv) PLA; CAF-PLA + SB-PLA. The total distance in the CAF (1878 ± 97 m) and CAF + SB (1877 ± 97 m) was longer than in the PLA (1865 ± 104 m; P < 0.05) and SB (1860 ± 96 m; P < 0.01). The mean power in CAF (400 ± 58 W) and CAF + SB (400 ± 58 W) was higher than the PLA (393 ± 61 W; P < 0.05) and SB (389 ± 57 W; P < 0.01). In CAF and CAF + SB, power was higher (P < 0.05) relative to PLA in the last half (4-6 min) of PT. Trials with CAF were more effective in light-weight rowers (1.0% ± 0.8% improvement in distance; P < 0.05) than in open-weight rowers (0.3% ± 0.8%; P > 0.05). No difference between interventions was observed for readiness and stomach comfort before PT and perceived exertion during PT. This study demonstrates that caffeine ingestion does improve performance in elite rowing. In contrast sodium bicarbonate does not appear to be ergogenic, but it does not abolish the ergogenic effect of caffeine.

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Caffeine, but not bicarbonate, improves 6 min maximal performance in elite rowers

Abstract

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