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−1 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−1), 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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Acknowledgements
Lima-Silva is grateful for his scholarship from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (grant 301340/2019-6). This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001.
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AHM, GC-S, and AEL-S conceived and designed research; GC-S, PSS, ACS-M, and AEL-S performed experiments; AHM, GC-S, PSS, and AEL-S analyzed data; AHM, GC-S, PSS, RB, and AEL-S interpreted results of experiments; AHM, GC-S, PSS, and AEL-S prepared figures; AHM and AEL-S drafted the manuscript; AHM, GC-S, PSS, ACS-M, AR, FRD-O, RB, and AEL-S edited and revised the manuscript; AHM, GC-S, PSS, ACS-M, AR, FRD-O, RB, and AEL-S approved the final version of the manuscript.
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Marinho, A.H., Cristina-Souza, G., Santos, P.S. et al. Caffeine alters the breathing pattern during high-intensity whole-body exercise in healthy men. Eur J Appl Physiol 122, 1497–1507 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-022-04934-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-022-04934-2