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Caffeine-containing energy drink improves sprint performance during an international rugby sevens competition

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a caffeine-containing energy drink on physical performance during a rugby sevens competition. A second purpose was to investigate the post-competition urinary caffeine concentration derived from the energy drink intake. On two non-consecutive days of a friendly tournament, 16 women from the Spanish National rugby sevens Team (mean age and body mass = 23 ± 2 years and 66 ± 7 kg) ingested 3 mg of caffeine per kg of body mass in the form of an energy drink (Fure®, ProEnergetics) or the same drink without caffeine (placebo). After 60 min for caffeine absorption, participants performed a 15-s maximal jump test, a 6 × 30 m sprint test, and then played three rugby sevens games against another national team. Individual running pace and instantaneous speed during the games were assessed using global positioning satellite (GPS) devices. Urine samples were obtained pre and post-competition. In comparison to the placebo, the ingestion of the energy drink increased muscle power output during the jump series (23.5 ± 10.1 vs. 25.6 ± 11.8 kW, P = 0.05), running pace during the games (87.5 ± 8.3 vs. 95.4 ± 12.7 m/min, P < 0.05), and pace at sprint velocity (4.6 ± 3.3 vs. 6.1 ± 3.4 m/min, P < 0.05). However, the energy drink did not affect maximal running speed during the repeated sprint test (25.0 ± 1.5 vs. 25.0 ± 1.7 km/h). The ingestion of the energy drink resulted in a higher post-competition urine caffeine concentration than the placebo (3.3 ± 0.7 vs. 0.2 ± 0.1 μg/mL; P < 0.05). In summary, 3 mg/kg of caffeine in the form of a commercially available energy drink considerably enhanced physical performance during a women’s rugby sevens competition.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the rugby players of the Spanish National Team for their invaluable contribution to the study. In addition, we are very grateful to the Spanish Rugby Federation for its involvement in this investigation. This investigation was awarded with the Ayudas a la Investigación, from Camilo José Cela University

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Camilo José Cela University, C/Castillo de Alarcon, 49, Villafranca del Castillo, 28692, Madrid, Spain

    Juan Del Coso, Javier Abián-Vicén & Cristina Gonzalez-Millán

  2. Exercise Training Laboratory, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain

    Javier Portillo

  3. Doping Control Laboratory, Spanish Anti-doping Agency, Madrid, Spain

    Gloria Muñoz & Jesús Muñoz-Guerra

Authors
  1. Juan Del Coso
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  2. Javier Portillo
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  3. Gloria Muñoz
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  4. Javier Abián-Vicén
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  5. Cristina Gonzalez-Millán
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  6. Jesús Muñoz-Guerra
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Correspondence to Juan Del Coso.

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Del Coso, J., Portillo, J., Muñoz, G. et al. Caffeine-containing energy drink improves sprint performance during an international rugby sevens competition. Amino Acids 44, 1511–1519 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-013-1473-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-013-1473-5

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