Effect of different dosages caffeine gum ingestion on mid-endurance performance

Caffeine is a substance that is found naturally in many plants and is often found in many of the drinks and foods we consume. The widespread use of caffeine is continually on the rise as we can easily find caffeine in coffee, tea, soda, chocolate, energy drinks and gels, gum, and pharmaceutical drugs. Caffeine is recognized as the World’s most commonly used drug and is frequently used by athletes as a nutritional ergogenic aid during training and competition. Caffeine is often administered as a liquid or in a capsule, but new research has shown that caffeine gum has a faster absorption rate and a higher relative bioavailability. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of different dosages caffeine gum ingestion on blood lactate and glucose during 1500-m running. Fifteen well-trained male runners completed a doubleblind, placebo controlled experiment. The runners [mean±SD] weight, height, age, and percentage body fat were 64.7±4.91 kg, 174.5±2.73 cm, 21.7±4.76 years, and 13.7±5.08 %, respectively. Chewing gum [3,4,5 mg.kg-1 of caffeine] or a placebo was administered at three time points [Thirty-five minutes pre-exercise, 5 minutes pre-exercise, and immediately following exercise]. The participants were instructed to chew for five minutes. Participants raced 1500-m distance. Blood glucose and lactate were measured via a finger prick in any four stages, 5 minutes pre-1500-m running, and immediately following 1500-m running. The rest Interval between any measurement stages was one week. The results indicated no significantly different between that blood glucose [p<0.05] and blood lactate [p<0.05] levels over time with the different dosages caffeine and versus the placebo. This was one of the first exercise studies conducted that administered caffeine gum and should be used as a starting point for future research on caffeine gum and exercise.