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Effect of caffeine intake on fat oxidation rate during exercise: is there a dose–response effect?

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Abstract

Purpose

The effect of caffeine to enhance fat utilisation as fuel for submaximal aerobic exercise is well established. However, it is unknown whether this effect is dose dependent. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 3 and 6 mg of caffeine per kg of body mass (mg/kg) on whole-body substrate oxidation during an incremental cycling exercise test.

Methods

In a double-blind, randomised, and counterbalanced experiment, 18 recreationally active males (maximal oxygen uptake [VO2max] = 56.7 ± 8.2 mL/kg/min) performed three experimental trials after ingesting either 3 mg/kg of caffeine, 6 mg/kg of caffeine or a placebo (cellulose). The trials consisted of an incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer with 3-min stages at workloads from 30 to 80% of VO2max. Energy expenditure, fat oxidation rate, and carbohydrate oxidation rate were continuously measured by indirect calorimetry.

Results

During exercise, there was significant effect of substance (F = 7.969; P = 0.004) on fat oxidation rate. In comparison to the placebo, the rate of fat oxidation was higher with 3 mg/kg of caffeine at 30, 40, 50 and 70% of VO2max [all P < 0.050, effect sizes (ES) from 0.38 to 0.50] and with 6 mg/kg of caffeine at 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70% of VO2max (all P < 0.050, ES from 0.28 to 0.76). Both 3 mg/kg (0.40 ± 0.21 g/min, P = 0.021, ES = 0.57) and 6 mg/kg of caffeine (0.40 ± 0.17 g/min P = 0.001, ES = 0.60) increased the maximal rate of fat oxidation during exercise over the placebo (0.31 ± 0.15 g/min). None of the caffeine doses produced any significant effect on energy expenditure or heart rate during exercise, while both caffeine doses reduced perceived fatigue at 80% of VO2max (all P < 0.050, ES from 0.71 to 1.48).

Conclusion

The effect of caffeine to enhance fat oxidation during submaximal aerobic exercise is of similar magnitude with 3 and 6 mg of caffeine per kg of body mass. Thus, a dose of 3 mg of caffeine per kg of body mass would be sufficient to enhance fat utilisation as fuel during submaximal exercise.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the participants for their invaluable contribution to the study.

Funding

The study was part of the project supported by a Grant from the Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, registered under the code UFV-2020-18.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Ctra. Pozuelo-Majadahonda KM 1.800, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain

    Jorge Gutiérrez-Hellín, Millán Aguilar-Navarro, Alejandro Muñoz & David Varillas-Delgado

  2. Excercise Physiology Laboratory, Camilo José Cela University, Madrid, Spain

    Carlos Ruiz-Moreno

  3. Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

    Francisco J. Amaro-Gahete

  4. Centre for Sport Studies, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain

    Juan Del Coso

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  1. Jorge Gutiérrez-Hellín
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Correspondence to Millán Aguilar-Navarro.

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Gutiérrez-Hellín, J., Aguilar-Navarro, M., Ruiz-Moreno, C. et al. Effect of caffeine intake on fat oxidation rate during exercise: is there a dose–response effect?. Eur J Nutr 62, 311–319 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-022-02988-8

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