Taking caffeine and carbs after a meal does not improve short-recovery high-intensity sprint performance

Co-ingestion of caffeine and carbohydrates resulted in a 5.2% reduction in total work during high-intensity intermittent sprints.

• No significant differences in peak power output and mean power output were observed between the trials.
• Fatigue increased by 24.7-25.7% at the end stage of the high-intensity sprints with caffeine and carbohydrates compared to placebo.
• Blood lactate levels rose by 11.1% during the sprints with caffeine and carbohydrates relative to placebo.
• Blood glucose concentrations were elevated throughout the high-intensity sprint testing when caffeine and carbohydrates were consumed.
• Cortisol levels increased with caffeine and carbohydrate intake, but no significant change in testosterone concentrations was noted.

Simplified