The Use of Energy Drinks in Sport: Perceived Ergogenicity and Side Effects in Male and Female Athletes
Open accessAbstract
The use of caffeine containing energy drinks has dramatically increased in the last few years, especially in the sport context because of its reported ergogenic effect. The ingestion of low to moderate doses of caffeinated energy drinks has been associated with adverse side effects such as insomnia or increased nervousness. The aim of the present study was to assess psycho-physiological changes and the prevalence of side effects resulting from the ingestion of 3 mg caffeine/kg body mass in the form of an energy drink. In a double-blind and placebo controlled experimental design, ninety experienced and low-caffeine-consuming athletes (fifty-three male and thirty-seven female) in two different sessions were provided with an energy drink that contained 3 mg/kg of caffeine or the same decaffeinated energy drink (placebo; 0 mg/kg). At 60 min after the ingestion of the energy drink, participants completed a training session. The effects of ingestion of these beverages on psycho-physiological variables during exercise and the rate of adverse side effects were measured using questionnaires. The caffeinated energy drink increased self-perceived muscle power during exercise compared with the placebo beverage (6·41 (sd 1·7)v.5·66 (sd 1·51);P= 0·001). Moreover, the energy drink produced a higher prevalence of side effects such as insomnia (31·2 v.10·4 %;P< 0·001), nervousness (13·2 v.0 %;P= 0·002) and activeness (16·9 v.3·9 %;P= 0·007) than the placebo energy drink. There were no sex differences in the incidence of side effects (P>0·05). The ingestion of an energy drink with 3 mg/kg of caffeine increased the prevalence of side effects. The presence of these side effects was similar between male and female participants.
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Salinero, J. J., Lara, B., Abian-Vicen, J., Gonzalez-Millán, C., Areces, F., Gallo-Salazar, C., Ruiz-Vicente, D., & Del Coso, J.
- Affiliations
- Camilo José Cela University (ES)
- Venue
- British Journal of Nutrition
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2014-09-12
- Volume
- 112
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1494-1502
- ISSN
- 0007-1145 (ISSN-L)
- 1475-2662
- OpenAlex
- W2061834003
- Semantic Scholar
- 25d3118ed9f5e6bbe2afa036361ec4839ef5c7db
- Cited by
- 131
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 3 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 4.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- British Journal Of Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Depósito Digital e-UCJC (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- RUIdeRA - Institutional University Repository (University of Castilla-La Mancha) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Coffee research and impacts
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Keywords
- energy drinks, caffeine, ergogenic aids, athletes, adverse effects, insomnia, anxiety, sex differences, exercise performance
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anxiety, Caffeine, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Male, Perception, Placebos, Sex Factors, Sports, Exercise, Muscle Strength, Athletic Performance, Young Adult, Athletes, Performance-Enhancing Substances, Energy Drinks
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