Caffeinated Sports Drink for Exercise Performance

(NRG Trial)

Overseen By Stavros Kavouras, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Arizona State University

Must not be taking: Testosterone therapy

Disqualifiers: Caffeine sensitivity, Cancer, Pregnancy, others

Approved in 4 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

20 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to evaluate how a caffeinated sports drink (a caffeinated carbohydrate and electrolyte drink) affects endurance, strength, and mental performance during exercise. Participants will consume various drinks, including a caffeinated one, a regular sports drink, a sugar-free option, and water, while cycling in warm conditions. The trial seeks healthy cyclists who train regularly, do not have caffeine sensitivity, and have been injury-free for at least two months. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to understanding the effects of sports drinks on athletic performance.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are using testosterone therapy, you cannot participate in the trial.

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

Past studies have shown that caffeinated drinks boost physical performance, particularly in endurance sports. Research suggests that combining caffeine with carbohydrates and electrolytes can enhance exercise performance. This combination, often found in sports drinks, helps athletes rehydrate and replace lost electrolytes during intense workouts.

Most people tolerate caffeinated drinks well, though caffeine can sometimes cause side effects like jitteriness or sleep disturbances. The drink being tested contains caffeine, carbohydrates, and electrolytes, common ingredients in many sports drinks. These components are generally safe when consumed at recommended levels.

Overall, evidence indicates that this type of drink is well-tolerated and can safely enhance exercise performance. However, individuals should monitor their body's response to caffeine and consult health professionals if concerns arise. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Researchers are excited about the caffeinated carbohydrate electrolyte solution because it combines caffeine with carbohydrates and electrolytes, potentially enhancing exercise performance more effectively than current options. While traditional sports drinks typically focus on replenishing carbohydrates and electrolytes, this solution adds caffeine, which may boost energy levels and improve endurance. The presence of caffeine, a stimulant known for enhancing alertness and reducing fatigue, could offer a unique edge for athletes and fitness enthusiasts looking for improved results during workouts. This treatment could redefine how we hydrate and energize during exercise, providing a comprehensive approach to performance enhancement.

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

This trial will compare different beverage formulations, including a caffeinated carbohydrate electrolyte solution, to assess their impact on exercise performance. Research has shown that caffeine-enhanced drinks can improve sports performance. Studies have found that combining caffeine with sugars and salts helps increase endurance and maintain a steady heart rate during exercise. Caffeine is known to boost performance in many sports. While some studies have mixed results about sports drinks in general, those with caffeine have shown positive effects. Thus, strong evidence suggests that a drink with caffeine, sugars, and salts could enhance exercise performance. ^{1 5 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Stavros Kavouras, PhD

Principal Investigator

Arizona State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for trained cyclists who can handle a tough workout in the heat. They'll be testing different drinks, including one with caffeine and sugar, another without sugar, and plain water. People with health issues that make exercise risky or those on medications affecting hydration or energy levels can't join.

Inclusion Criteria

Active cyclists who train at least 3 times per week

Body mass index (BMI) range of 18.5-30 kg/m2

I have been healthy and free from muscle or bone injuries for over 2 months.

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnancy

History of a heat stroke

I am unable to make my own medical decisions.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Familiarization

Participants complete a familiarization trial without any blood sampling

1 session

1 visit (in-person)

Experimental Trials

Participants complete four randomized 3-hour experimental trials with different beverages, including cycling, strength, and cognitive assessments

4 sessions

4 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the experimental trials

2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Caffeinated Carbohydrate and electrolyte drink

Trial Overview Researchers are looking at how a caffeinated sports drink compares to other drinks in improving cycling performance, strength, and brain function during intense exercise. Participants will cycle for hours in warm conditions and then do physical and mental tests.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: no-sugar electrolyte solution Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

1% carbohydrate solution with 1,060 mg/L of Sodium

Group II: Carbohydrate electrolyte solution Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

2% carbohydrate solution with 1,020 mg/L of Sodium

Group III: Caffeinated carbohydrate electrolyte solution Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

1% carbohydrate solution with 1,000 mg/L of Sodium, and 200mg/L Caffeine

Group IV: Water Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Water masked with non-caloric and no-sodium

Caffeinated Carbohydrate and electrolyte drink is already approved in United States, European Union, Canada for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Caffeinated Beverages for:

• General Health and Wellness
• Physical Performance Enhancement

Approved in European Union as Caffeinated Energy Drinks for:

• Mental Performance Enhancement
• Physical Performance Enhancement

Approved in Canada as Caffeinated Sports Drinks for:

• Exercise Performance Enhancement
• Hydration

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Arizona State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

311

Recruited

109,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 50 adult triathletes and runners, a commercially available 6% carbohydrate-electrolyte sports beverage (CCE) was found to be the most palatable and consumed the most during exercise compared to diluted orange juice (DOJ), homemade sports beverage (HCE), and water (W).

The results suggest that beverage palatability significantly influences voluntary intake during exercise, with CCE being preferred over other options, which could impact hydration and energy replenishment strategies for athletes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Palatability and voluntary intake of sports beverages, diluted orange juice, and water during exercise. Passe, DH., Horn, M., Stofan, J., et al.[2019]

Oral supplementation with a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink significantly improved endurance performance and heart rate responses in national level male athletes during exercise at 70% VO2max, indicating its efficacy in enhancing sports performance.

The carbohydrate-electrolyte drink also facilitated better lactate removal and improved cardiovascular responses during recovery, suggesting it helps delay fatigue and supports recovery after intense exercise.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Supplementary effect of carbohydrate-electrolyte drink on sports performance, lactate removal & cardiovascular response of athletes. Khanna, GL., Manna, I.[2013]

In a study involving 15 endurance-trained male athletes, carbohydrate electrolyte solutions (CES) with low doses of caffeine improved long-term memory before exercise compared to placebo drinks.

After exercise, CES drinks with low and medium doses of caffeine enhanced cognitive functions such as attention, psychomotor skills, and memory, demonstrating that even small amounts of caffeine can positively affect cognitive performance following strenuous physical activity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Caffeine improves cognitive performance after strenuous physical exercise. Hogervorst, E., Riedel, WJ., Kovacs, E., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 15 male soccer players, adding caffeine to a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution improved sprinting performance and explosive leg power during prolonged soccer activity, with faster sprint times and higher jump heights observed with caffeine ingestion.

Participants reported enhanced subjective experiences and pleasure during the caffeine trial, suggesting that caffeine not only boosts physical performance but also positively affects athletes' mental states during exercise.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The influence of caffeine and carbohydrate coingestion on simulated soccer performance. Gant, N., Ali, A., Foskett, A.[2022]

In a study involving 22 professional male soccer players, consuming a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink during a 90-minute match resulted in higher blood glucose levels and improved performance in specific soccer skills compared to a placebo.

Players who ingested the carbohydrate-electrolyte drink completed a dribble test faster and had better precision scores, indicating that this type of drink can enhance skill performance and recovery during soccer matches.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink on specific soccer tests and performance. Ostojic, SM., Mazic, S.[2021]

A study involving 16 cyclists found that a caffeinated sports drink did not impair hydration or fluid delivery during exercise in warm, humid conditions, maintaining similar hydration levels as a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink.

Despite higher serum osmolality with the caffeinated drink compared to placebo, it still supported cardiovascular and thermoregulatory functions effectively, indicating that caffeine does not negatively affect hydration during exercise.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hydration during exercise in warm, humid conditions: effect of a caffeinated sports drink. Millard-Stafford, ML., Cureton, KJ., Wingo, JE., et al.[2019]

In a study with 58 well-trained male cyclists, consuming a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution with 150 mg/L caffeine during 4 hours of cycling resulted in post-exercise urinary caffeine levels that were below the International Olympic Committee's doping threshold.

There was a strong positive correlation between caffeine intake and post-exercise urinary caffeine concentration, indicating that the amount of caffeine consumed directly affects its concentration in urine.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of ad libitum ingestion of a caffeinated carbohydrate-electrolyte solution on urinary caffeine concentration after 4 hours of endurance exercise. Kovacs, EM., Martin, AM., Brouns, F.[2013]

Two clinical studies demonstrated that carbohydrate-electrolyte beverages can enhance performance in intermittent moderate- to high-intensity exercises like soccer and ice hockey.

Additional studies showed these beverages also improve performance during steady-state moderate- to high-intensity exercise, although the exact mechanism of how carbohydrates boost performance in these scenarios remains unclear.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sports drinks: research asks for reevaluation of current recommendations. Ryan, M.[2019]

In a study involving 15 cyclists, both low (100 mg) and moderate (200 mg) doses of caffeine in a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution significantly improved time-trial performance compared to a placebo, with the moderate dose showing the greatest improvement.

The moderate dose of caffeine led to a faster completion time in the time-trial (26:36 min) compared to the low dose (27:36 min) and placebo (28:41 min), indicating that caffeine can enhance athletic performance when consumed late in exercise.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Low and moderate doses of caffeine late in exercise improve performance in trained cyclists. Talanian, JL., Spriet, LL.[2017]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7995988/

Energy Drinks and Sports Performance, Cardiovascular Risk ... Various clinical trials have shown that drinking an energy drink that combines caffeine and taurine correlates positively with an improved athletic performance ...

2. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/9/2944

Caffeinated Drinks and Physical Performance in Sport The analysis of the included studies revealed that both sports drinks with caffeine and energy drinks were effective in increasing several ...

3. gssiweb.org gssiweb.org/sports-science-exchange/article/caffeine-and-exercise-performance-an-update

CAFFEINE AND EXERCISE PERFORMANCE: AN UPDATE It has been shown to be “ergogenic” or “performance-enhancing” in almost every exercise and sporting scenario that has been studied.

4. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-dehydration-related-to-exercise-11-2024-8c590

Caffeinated Sports Drink for Exercise Performance Oral supplementation with a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink significantly improved endurance performance and heart rate responses in national level male athletes ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7759561/

The Effects of Sports Drinks During High-Intensity Exercise ... The results indicate that, compared with a placebo, sports drinks show no significant improvements on CHO-O and Fat-O in athletes. Carbohydrate ...

6. nfhs.org nfhs.org/stories/the-shocking-truth-about-the-dangers-of-energy-drinks

The Shocking Truth About the Dangers of Energy Drinks Energy drinks and sports drinks are two different things – Sports drinks contain electrolytes and sugar to rehydrate athletes after a workout.

7. cnn.com cnn.com/2023/07/11/health/sports-drinks-caffeine-children-athletes-wellness

Are sports drinks good or bad for you? A medical analyst ... Sports drinks are electrolyte-enhanced beverages. Their main purpose is to restore water and electrolytes that are lost during heavy exercise and sweating.

8. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/NDS.S143147

Current perspectives of caffeinated energy drinks on ... Current perspectives of caffeinated energy drinks on exercise performance and safety assessment ... carbohydrate, caffeine, and electrolytes ...