Acute Low and Moderate Doses of Caffeine Improve Aerobic Endurance but Not Throwing Velocity in Trained Female Handball Players

Year 2023, , 107 - 115, 25.10.2023

Ulaş Can Yıldırım

https://doi.org/10.33438/ijdshs.1351173

Abstract

Handball is a high-intensity team sport requiring muscle power and high aerobic capacity. Caffeine is a commonly used ergogenic aid known to enhance sports performance. However, its effects on female handball players remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of acute low (LCAF) and moderate (MCAF) doses of caffeine intake on aerobic endurance and throwing velocity in trained female handball players. Fifteen trained female handball players participated in this randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Participants completed four sessions, including a familiarization session and three test sessions. The test sessions involved ingesting either 3 mg/kg (LCAF) or 6 mg/kg (MCAF) of caffeine or a placebo (PLA). Throwing velocity and aerobic endurance were measured using a hand radar gun and the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1, respectively. The results showed a significant improvement in aerobic endurance with both LCAF and MCAF doses of caffeine compared to the PLA condition (f= 5,993; p= ,014; η2= ,480). However, there was no significant difference in throwing velocity between the caffeine and placebo conditions (f= ,040; p= ,961; η2= ,006). Acute LCAF and MCAF doses of caffeine supplementation can enhance aerobic endurance but do not affect throwing velocity in trained female handball players. These findings contribute to the limited literature on the effects of caffeine in trained female handball players and suggest that caffeine may be a useful nutritional strategy for improving performance in this sport.

Keywords

Handball, Aerobic Endurance, Throwing Velocity, Female Athletes

References

• Abian-Vicen, J., Puente, C., Salinero, J. J., González-Millán, C., Areces, F., Muñoz, G., Muñoz-Guerra, J., & Del Coso, J. (2014). A caffeinated energy drink improves jump performance in adolescent basketball players. Amino acids, 46(5), 1333-1341. Anderson, M.
• E., Bruce, C. R., Fraser, S. F., Stepto, N. K., Klein, R., Hopkins, W. G., & Hawley, J. A. (2000). Improved 2000-meter rowing performance in competitive oarswomen after caffeine ingestion. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism, 10(4), 464-475.
• Berjisian, E., Naderi, A., Mojtahedi, S., Grgic, J., Ghahramani, M. H., Karayigit, R., Forbes, J. L., Amaro-Gahete, F. J., & Forbes, S. C. (2022). Are Caffeine’s Effects on Resistance Exercise and Jumping Performance Moderated by Training Status? Nutrients, 14(22), 4840.
• Chia, J. S., Barrett, L. A., Chow, J. Y., & Burns, S. F. (2017). Effects of caffeine supplementation on performance in ball games. Sports Medicine, 47, 2453-2471.
• Clarke, N. D., Richardson, D. L., Thie, J., & Taylor, R. (2018). Coffee ingestion enhances 1-mile running race performance. International journal of sports physiology and performance, 13(6), 789-794.
• Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Lawrence Erlbaum. Hillsdale, NJ, 75-108.
• Dittrich, N., Serpa, M. C., Lemos, E. C., De Lucas, R. D., & Guglielmo, L. G. A. (2021). Effects of caffeine chewing gum on exercise tolerance and neuromuscular responses in well-trained runners. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 35(6), 1671-1676.
• Gomez-Bruton, A., Marin-Puyalto, J., Muñiz-Pardos, B., Matute-Llorente, A., Del Coso, J., Gomez-Cabello, A., Vicente-Rodriguez, G., Casajus, J. A., & Lozano-Berges, G. (2021). Does acute caffeine supplementation improve physical performance in female team-sport athletes? Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients, 13(10), 3663.
• Grgic, J. (2021). Effects of caffeine on resistance exercise: a review of recent research. Sports Medicine, 51, 2281-2298.
• Hanson, N. J., Martinez, S. C., Byl, E. N., Maceri, R. M., & Miller, M. G. (2019). Increased rate of heat storage, and no performance benefits, with caffeine ingestion before a 10-km run in hot, humid conditions. International journal of sports physiology and performance, 14(2), 196-202.
• Jenkins, N. T., Trilk, J. L., Singhal, A., O’Connor, P. J., & Cureton, K. J. (2008). Ergogenic effects of low doses of caffeine on cycling performance. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism, 18(3), 328-342.
• MacIntosh, B. R., & Wright, B. M. (1995). Caffeine ingestion and performance of a 1,500-metre swim. Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology, 20(2), 168-177.
• Maughan, R. J. (2018). IOC Medical and Scientific Commission reviews its position on the use of dietary supplements by elite athletes. In (Vol. 52, pp. 418-419): BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine.
• Mohr, M., Nielsen, J. J., & Bangsbo, J. (2011). Caffeine intake improves intense intermittent exercise performance and reduces muscle interstitial potassium accumulation. Journal of applied physiology, 111(5), 1372-1379.
• Muñoz, A., López-Samanes, Á., Aguilar-Navarro, M., Varillas-Delgado, D., Rivilla-García, J., Moreno-Pérez, V., & Del Coso, J. (2020). Effects of CYP1A2 and ADORA2A genotypes on the ergogenic response to caffeine in professional handball players. Genes, 11(8), 933.
• Munoz, A., López-Samanes, Á., Pérez-López, A., Aguilar-Navarro, M., Moreno-Heredero, B., Rivilla-García, J., González-Frutos, P., Pino-Ortega, J., Morencos, E., & Del Coso, J. (2020). Effects of caffeine ingestion on physical performance in elite women handball players: a randomized, controlled study. International journal of sports physiology and performance, 15(10), 1406-1413.
• Ortega-Becerra, M., Belloso-Vergara, A., & Pareja-Blanco, F. (2020). Physical and physiological demands during handball matches in male adolescent players. Journal of human kinetics, 72(1), 253-263.
• Pasman, W., Van Baak, M., Jeukendrup, A., & De Haan, A. (1995). The effect of different dosages of caffeine on endurance performance time. International journal of sports medicine, 16(04), 225-230.
• Pettersen, S. A., Krustrup, P., Bendiksen, M., Randers, M. B., Brito, J., Bangsbo, J., Jin, Y., & Mohr, M. (2014). Caffeine supplementation does not affect match activities and fatigue resistance during match play in young football players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(20), 1958-1965. Pickering, C., & Kiely, J. (2018). Are the current guidelines on caffeine use in sport optimal for everyone? Inter-individual variation in caffeine ergogenicity, and a move towards personalised sports nutrition. Sports Medicine, 48, 7-16.
• Pickering, C., & Kiely, J. (2019). What should we do about habitual caffeine use in athletes? Sports Medicine, 49, 833-842.
• Ping, W. C., Keong, C. C., & Bandyopadhyay, A. (2010). Effects of acute supplementation of caffeine on cardiorespiratory responses during endurance running in a hot & humid climate. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 132(1), 36-41.
• Rocha, J. C. C., da Rocha, A. L. S., da Silva Santos Soares, G., & Correia-Oliveira, C. R. (2021). Effects of caffeine ingestion on upper and lower limb muscle power of handball players: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Sport Sciences for Health, 17(4), 1039-1044.
• Sabol, F., Grgic, J., & Mikulic, P. (2019). The effects of 3 different doses of caffeine on jumping and throwing performance: a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. International journal of sports physiology and performance, 14(9), 1170-1177.
• Souhail, H., Castagna, C., Yahmed Mohamed, H., Younes, H., & Chamari, K. (2010). Direct validity of the yo-yo intermittent recovery test in young team handball players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 24(2), 465-470.
• Southward, K., Rutherfurd-Markwick, K. J., & Ali, A. (2018). The effect of acute caffeine ingestion on endurance performance: a systematic review and meta–analysis. Sports Medicine, 48, 1913-1928.
• Souza, D. B., Del Coso, J., Casonatto, J., & Polito, M. D. (2017). Acute effects of caffeine-containing energy drinks on physical performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Nutrition, 56, 13-27.
• Tan, Z. S., Sim, A., Kawabata, M., & Burns, S. F. (2021). A systematic review of the effects of caffeine on basketball performance outcomes. Biology, 11(1), 17.
• Venier, S., Grgic, J., & Mikulic, P. (2019). Acute enhancement of jump performance, muscle strength, and power in resistance-trained men after consumption of caffeinated chewing gum. International journal of sports physiology and performance, 14(10), 1415-1421.
• Vila, H., & Ferragut, C. (2019). Throwing speed in team handball: a systematic review. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 19(5), 724-736.
• Wang, Z., Qiu, B., Gao, J., & Del Coso, J. (2022). Effects of caffeine intake on endurance running performance and time to exhaustion: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients, 15(1), 148.
• Wickham, K. A., & Spriet, L. L. (2018). Administration of caffeine in alternate forms. Sports Medicine, 48, 79-91.
• Wiles, J., Bird, S., Hopkins, J., & Riley, M. (1992). Effect of caffeinated coffee on running speed, respiratory factors, blood lactate and perceived exertion during 1500-m treadmill running. British journal of sports medicine, 26(2), 116-120.
• Yildirim, U. C. (2022). Acute Effect of Caffeine Intake on the Physical Performance of 3x3 Basketball Players. Efe Akademi Publications.