Caffeine + Pre-workout for Exercise Performance

Overseen By Dylan Moffatt, Bsc

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: St. Louis University

Must not be taking: Beta-blockers, Antidepressants, Anti-anxiety, Pain killers

Disqualifiers: Cardiovascular, Metabolic, Seizure, Pregnancy, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

12 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine how different drinks might boost exercise performance. Participants will try Ethiopian coffee, a special pre-workout supplement, and water to see which one helps them pedal faster, run a mile quicker, and react more swiftly to lights. Ideal participants are healthy adults who exercise regularly at least three times a week. The results can guide people in choosing the best drink to enhance their workout or race performance. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to explore new ways to optimize their exercise routines.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

You cannot participate in the trial if you are currently taking prescription medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

A previous study showed that coffee improves exercise performance without serious side effects. The caffeine in coffee reduces fatigue during workouts, making it a popular choice for boosting performance.

Research also shows that a supplement combining caffeine and blackcurrant extract can enhance sports performance. Importantly, studies have found no known harmful side effects from using blackcurrant.

Both treatments appear safe based on current research. However, individual experiences may differ. Always consider personal health and consult a healthcare provider if concerns arise. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these treatments because they explore unique ways to boost exercise performance using caffeine. The Ethiopian Coffee treatment leverages a specific brewing method with Aeropress and Timemore C3Pro grinder, promising a distinct flavor profile and rapid cooling for faster consumption, which isn't typical in standard caffeine sources. On the other hand, the Anthocyanin-Caffeine supplement combines caffeine with anthocyanins from New Zealand Blackcurrant berries, potentially offering antioxidant benefits alongside the energy boost. These innovative approaches could offer new benefits beyond traditional caffeine products like energy drinks or pills.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for exercise performance?

Research shows that caffeine can enhance exercise performance, aiding quick reactions and endurance activities. Studies suggest that consuming about 3-6 mg of caffeine per kg of body weight can improve performance in activities like running or cycling. Many athletes use coffee, which naturally contains caffeine, for this reason. In this trial, one group of participants will receive Ethiopian Coffee to assess its effects on exercise performance.

Another group in this trial will receive an anthocyanin-caffeine supplement. Anthocyanins from blackcurrants have been found to boost sports performance. One study found that combining caffeine with New Zealand blackcurrant anthocyanins improved performance in some cases, with participants showing increased speed and endurance. The benefits seem to come from caffeine's stimulating effects and anthocyanins' ability to support blood flow during exercise. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Hossein Rafiei, PhD

Principal Investigator

St. Louis University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals interested in understanding how different beverages affect exercise performance. Participants should be healthy, able to perform high-intensity exercise, and willing to consume coffee or a pre-workout supplement. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria details are not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a healthy adult between 18 and 35 years old.

Regularly engaged in resistance training or aerobic exercise at least 3 times per week, at least 30 minutes a week for the past 6 months

Able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

I have or had heart, blood pressure, sugar problems, or other related conditions.

Recent participation in another clinical trial

Currently pregnant, breastfeeding, pregnant within the past year, or a chance of being pregnant

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 visit

1 visit (in-person)

Assessment

Initial assessment to define the population to be tested

1 visit

1 visit (in-person)

Testing

Participants undergo exercise performance tests after consuming assigned beverages

3 visits

3 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any delayed effects of the interventions

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Ethiopian Coffee
• Supplement
• Water (Placebo)

Trial Overview The study tests the effects of Ethiopian Coffee, a commercial pre-workout supplement, and water (placebo) on exercise performance. Over four visits, participants will try each drink before completing three types of fitness tests: a sprint cycling test (Wingate), an inclined 1-mile treadmill run/walk, and a reaction time test.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Ethiopian Coffee Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A light roast Ethiopian Coffee is used based on previous research using the same technique for brewing. The coffee is brewed using the Aeropress coffee maker and the Timemore C3Pro hand grinder to grind the coffee. The recipe uses 15 grams of ground coffee set at the same grind setting (16 clicks) and 200 grams of water to have a target cup size of 175 mL plus 50 grams of ice to rapidly cool down the drink for consumption.

Group II: Anthocyanin-Caffeine Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

An anthocyanin-caffeine pre-workout supplement containing 120 mg of anthocyanins from New Zealand Blackcurrant berries, along with 120 mg of caffeine. This single-serve packet is stirred into 8 ounces of water and served.

Group III: Water Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Water used as a constant water intake across all three arms

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

St. Louis University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

197

Recruited

41,400+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7251677/

The effect of New Zealand blackcurrant on sport performance ... There was an improvement in sport performance when supplementing with blackcurrant, 0.45 (95% CI 0.09–0.81, p = 0.01). The effective dose ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299124024570

Anthocyanin-Rich Blackcurrant Supplementation as a ... The focus of this narrative review was on the observations with intake of anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant supplements on whole-body exercise performance and ...

3. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.864323/full

Anthocyanin-Rich Supplementation: Emerging Evidence of ... In addition, New Zealand blackcurrant extract (210 mg anthocyanins·day−1 for 7 days) had the ergogenic effect of reduced slowing of sprint time ...

4. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/24/4253

Individual Responses to Repeated Dosing with ... For 50% of the participants, seven days' intake of NZBC extract consistently enhanced high-intensity, intermittent running capacity. In light of these data, ...

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/370128999_Ergogenic_Effects_of_the_Combination_of_Caffeine_and_New_Zealand_Blackcurrant_Supplements_A_Double-_Blind_Singe-Case_Experimental_Study

(PDF) Ergogenic Effects of the Combination of Caffeine ... The combination of caffeine and NZBC again increased performance in both subjects (2.2% and 19.2%), but the data only showed an additive effect of the ...

6. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2411-5142/9/2/76

Effects of CurraNZ, a New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract ... Seven-day intake of New Zealand blackcurrant extract (210 mg anthocyanins per day) provided beneficial physiological and metabolic responses during exertional ...

7. journals.humankinetics.com journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijsnem/35/2/article-p150.xml

Effects of New Zealand Black Currant Extract on Exercising ... New Zealand black currant extract (NZBC) has been shown to increase fat oxidation during exercise and decrease the postexercise blood ...

8. 2before.com 2before.com/blogs/blog/blackcurrant-supplements-that-improve-recovery-post-run?srsltid=AfmBOoodpnXHUnCBe3WSux07YYdWzjDzZ_rD2zhKyM1QJTqHNFhYFETa

Blackcurrant Supplements That Improve Recovery Post-Run Taking the supplement about one hour before exercise allows sufficient time for anthocyanins to reach peak levels in the bloodstream, ...