Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

70 μM caffeine treatment enhances in vitro force and power output during cyclic activities in mouse extensor digitorum longus muscle

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Caffeine ingestion by human athletes has been found to improve endurance performance primarily acting via the central nervous system as an adenosine receptor antagonist. However, a few studies have implied that the resultant micromolar levels of caffeine in blood plasma (70 μM maximum for humans) may directly affect skeletal muscle causing enhanced force production. In the present study, the effects of 70 μM caffeine on force and power output in isolated mouse extensor digitorum longus muscle were investigated in vitro at 35°C. Muscle preparations were subjected to cyclical sinusoidal length changes with electrical stimulation conditions optimised to produce maximal work. 70 μM caffeine caused a small but significant increase (2–3%) in peak force and net work produced during work loops (where net work represents the work input required to lengthen the muscle subtracted from the work produced during shortening). However, these micromolar caffeine levels did not affect the overall pattern of fatigue or the pattern of recovery from fatigue. Our results suggest that the plasma concentrations found when caffeine is used to enhance athletic performance in human athletes might directly enhance force and power during brief but not prolonged activities. These findings potentially confirm previous in vivo studies, using humans, which implied caffeine ingestion may cause acute improvements in muscle force and power output but would not enhance endurance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen DG, Westerblad H (1995) The effects of caffeine on intracellular calcium, force and the rate of relaxation in mouse skeletal muscle. J Physiol 487:331–342

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Allen DG, Westerblad H (2001) Role of phosphate and calcium stores in muscle fatigue. J Physiol 536(3):657–665

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Askew GN, Marsh RL (1997) The effects of length trajectory on the mechanical power output of mouse skeletal muscles. J Exp Biol 200:3119–3131

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Askew GN, Marsh RL (1998) Optimal shortening velocity (V/Vmax) of skeletal muscle during cyclical contractions: length force effects and velocity dependent activation and deactivation. J Exp Biol 201:1527–1540

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks SV, Faulkner JA (1988) Contractile properties of skeletal muscles from young, adult and aged mice. J Physiol 404:71–82

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dickinson M, Farley C, Full R, Koehl M, Kram R, Lehman S (2000) How animals move: an integrative review. Science 288:100–106

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fredholm BB, Bättic K, Holmén J, Nehlic A, Zvartau EE (1999) Actions of caffeine in the brain with special reference to factors that contribute to its widespread use. Pharmacol Rev 51:83–133

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Germinario E, Esposito A, Megighian A, Midrio M, Betto R, Danieli-Betto D (2004) Effects of modulators of sarcoplasmic Ca2+ release on the development of skeletal muscle fatigue. J Appl Physiol 96:645–649

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graham TE (2001) Caffeine and exercise. Metabolism, endurance and performance. Sports Med 31:785–807

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • James RS, Altringham JD, Goldspink DF (1995) The mechanical properties of fast and slow skeletal muscles of the mouse in relation to their locomotory function. J Exp Biol 198:491–502

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • James RS, Young IS, Cox VM, Goldspink DF, Altringham JD (1996) Isometric and isotonic muscle properties as determinants of work loop muscle power output. Eur J Physiol 432:767–774

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • James RS, Wilson RS, Askew GN (2004) The effects of caffeine on mouse skeletal muscle power output during recovery from fatigue. J Appl Physiol 96:545–552

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalmar JM, Cafarelli E (1999) Effects of caffeine on neuromuscular function. J Appl Physiol 87:801–808

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lindinger MI, Graham TE, Spriet LL (1993) Caffeine attenuates the exercise-induced increase in plasma [K+] in humans. J Appl Physiol 74:1149–1155

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lopes JM, Aubier M, Jardim J, Aranda JV, Macklem PT (1983) Effect of caffeine on skeletal muscle function before and after fatigue. J Appl Physiol 54:1303–1305

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lorist MM, Tops M (2003) Caffeine, fatigue and cognition. Brain Cogn 53:82–94

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh RL (1999) How muscles deal with real-world loads: the influence of length trajectory on muscle performance. J Exp Biol 202:3377–3385

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Méndez J, Keys A (1960) Density and composition of mammalian muscle. Metabolism 9:184–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Paluska SA (2003) Caffeine and exercise. Curr Sports Med Rep 2:213–219

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Plaskett CJ, Cafarelli E (2001) Caffeine increases endurance and attenuates force sensation during submaximal isometric contractions. J Appl Physiol 91:1535–1544

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reading SA, Murrant CL, Barclay JK (2004) Positive inotropism in mammalian skeletal muscle in vitro during and after fatigue. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 82:249–261

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rossi R, Bottinelli R, Sorrentino V, Reggiani C (2001) Response to caffeine and ryanodine receptor isoforms in mouse skeletal muscles. Am J Physiol 281:C585–C594

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spriet LL, Howlett RA (2000) Caffeine. In: Maughn RJ (ed) Nutrition and Sport. Blackwell Science, pp 379–392

  • Tarnopolsky M, Cupido C (2000) Caffeine potentiates low frequency skeletal muscle force in habitual and nonhabitual caffeine consumers. J Appl Physiol 89:1719–1724

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wakeling JM (2004) Motor units are recruited in a task-dependent fashion during locomotion. J Exp Biol 207:3883–90

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zaykin DV, Zhivotovsky LA, Westfall PH, Weir, BS (2002) Truncated product method for combining p-values. Genet Epidemiol 22:170–185

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Tiana Kohlsdorf was a visiting postgraduate student supported by a FAPESP Doctoral Fellowship (00/06662-5) and travelling fellowships to the UK from Pró-reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-graduação and Commissão de Cooperação Internacional (CCInt), both from University of São Paulo, Brazil. We thank: Drs. Mike Price, Graham Askew, Ray Carson, Anna Pike and participants in the Coventry University Physiology and Sport Science seminar series for helpful discussions; Mark Bodycote and Adrian Wallen for technical assistance. TK present address: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University. 165 Prospect St., New Haven, 06511 CT. USA.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Science and the Environment, James Starley Building, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK

    Rob S. James & Val M. Cox

  2. Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão Travessa 14 No. 321, CEP 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Tiana Kohlsdorf & Carlos A. Navas

Authors
  1. Rob S. James
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tiana Kohlsdorf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Val M. Cox
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Carlos A. Navas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rob S. James.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

James, R.S., Kohlsdorf, T., Cox, V.M. et al. 70 μM caffeine treatment enhances in vitro force and power output during cyclic activities in mouse extensor digitorum longus muscle. Eur J Appl Physiol 95, 74–82 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-005-1396-2

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-005-1396-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation