Low-dose caffeine enhances cognitive processing but not physical performance in fatigued taekwondo athletes: a randomized crossover trial
Background Caffeine is commonly used to combat fatigue and enhance both cognitive and physical performance. However, its effects on neurophysiological responses and sport-specific performance following fatigue induction remain unclear, particularly in combat sports such as Taekwondo. This study inve...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15502783.2025.2526094 |
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| Summary: | Background Caffeine is commonly used to combat fatigue and enhance both cognitive and physical performance. However, its effects on neurophysiological responses and sport-specific performance following fatigue induction remain unclear, particularly in combat sports such as Taekwondo. This study investigated the effects of a 200 mg caffeine dose on physiological markers, electroencephalographic (EEG) brainwave activity, auditory P300 event-related potentials (ERPs), and Taekwondo-specific performance following combined mental and physical fatigue.Methods Thirteen male Taekwondo athletes participated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study with caffeine (CAF) and placebo (PLA) conditions. Measurements were taken at baseline (pre-supplementation), 30 minutes post-supplementation (post-Sup), and after fatigue induction (post-I). Physiological parameters (heart rate, blood glucose, blood lactate, and ratings of perceived exertion), EEG brainwave activity during resting eyes-open conditions, auditory P300 ERPs, and Taekwondo-specific agility (TSAT) were assessed at all time points.Results Caffeine significantly reduced delta wave power at frontal and parieto-occipital sites at post-Sup (p < 0.05), indicating decreased cortical drowsiness; however, this effect was not sustained at post-I (p > 0.05). P300 amplitude significantly increased in the CAF condition compared to PLA from post-Sup to post-I at the central and parietal electrode sites (p < 0.05), while P300 latency remained unchanged (p > 0.05). No significant differences were observed in reaction time, accuracy, or error rate in the auditory oddball task or TSAT performance across conditions (p > 0.05). Similarly, physiological parameters remained unchanged between groups (p > 0.05).Conclusion A single 200 mg dose of caffeine reduced central fatigue and enhanced cognitive processing, as reflected by suppressed delta wave activity at post-Sup and increased P300 amplitude at post-I. However, caffeine did not influence physiological responses or Taekwondo-specific performance. These findings suggest that low-dose caffeine primarily benefits cognitive function rather than physical performance in combat sports. Future studies should explore dose-response relationships and individual variability in caffeine metabolism to optimize its application in competitive settings. |
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| ISSN: | 1550-2783 |