Caffeine Alters the Breathing Pattern During High-intensity Whole-body Exercise in Healthy Men

Overview

Journal Eur J Appl Physiol

Specialty Physiology

Date 2022 Apr 9

PMID 35396967

Authors

Alisson Henrique Marinho

Gislaine Cristina-Souza

Pamela Souza Santos

Ana Carla Santos-Mariano

Andre Rodacki

Fernando Roberto DE-Oliveira

Romulo Bertuzzi

Adriano Eduardo Lima-Silva

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: The current study investigated the effect of caffeine on the breathing pattern during a high-intensity whole-body exercise.

Methods: Using a randomized, crossover, counterbalanced, and double-blind design, twelve healthy men ingested either 5 mg.kg of caffeine or cellulose (placebo) one hour before performing a high-intensity whole-body exercise (i.e., work rate corresponding to 80% of the difference between the gas exchange threshold and maximal oxygen uptake) until the limit of tolerance. Ventilatory and metabolic responses were recorded throughout the trial and at task failure.

Results: Caffeine ingestion increased time to task failure in relation to the placebo (368.1 ± 49.6 s vs. 328.5 ± 56.6 s, p = 0.005). Caffeine also increased tidal volume and inspiratory time throughout the exercise (p < 0.05). Compared to task failure with placebo, task failure with caffeine intake was marked by higher (p < 0.05) minute ventilation (134.8 ± 16.4 vs. 147.6 ± 18.2 L.min), the ventilatory equivalent of oxygen consumption (37.8 ± 4.2 vs. 41.7 ± 5.5 units), and respiratory exchange ratio (1.12 ± 0.10 vs. 1.19 ± 0.11 units).

Conclusion: In conclusion, ingestion of caffeine alters the breathing pattern by increasing tidal volume and lengthening the inspiratory phase of the respiratory cycle. These findings suggest that caffeine affects the ventilatory system, which may account, in part, for its ergogenic effects during high-intensity whole-body exercises.

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