Energy Drinks Improve Cycling Performance

AUSTIN, TexasConsumption of energy drinks containing caffeine may have beneficial effects on exercise, but probably not for mental function, according to a new study published in the Journal of Caffeine Research.

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin conducted a study to investigate the effectiveness of an energy drink containing caffeine to enhance cycling time-trial performance and cognitive performance at rest, during strenuous exercise, and after exercise.

The experimental protocol was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover design. The treatments were energy drinks containing caffeine (160mg), carbohydrate (54g), taurine, and Panax ginseng, and a caffeine-free noncaloric placebo beverage. After a 12-hour calorie and caffeine abstention, exercise performance was measured by time to finish a simulated 35-km cycling time-trial course. Cognitive performance was measured by a Stroop Test, a tapping task, a reaction time task, and an executive function task consisting of both tapping and reaction time. Participants were grouped as low-baseline (LO) or high-baseline (HI) since five of 15 participants had elevated baseline blood caffeine concentrations at both experimental trials.

Race performance improved for all study participants after consuming an energy drink, even if they already had an elevated blood caffeine level before the energy drink. Cycling times improved by an average of 3% for the group.

The researchers concluded energy drinks containing caffeine are effective pre-exercise supplements that can improve cycling time-trial performance and possibly simple aspects of cognitive function even under elevated basal blood caffeine levels.