Effect of Caffeine on Cardiorespiratory Parameters in Sedentary, Healthy Young Females

In today's highly competitive life, most of the population is under pressure for better performance. The increment in performance depends upon various ergogenic methods to enhance the energy delivery system. Of various ergogenic methods available, caffeine consumption is increasingly popular amongst them.

The present study was undertaken to study the effect of caffeine (6mg/kg body weight) on cardiovascular & respiratory parameters after 5 minutes of stationary cycling on a bicycle ergometer, in sedentary young females of age 18–26 years.

The participants were made to complete a graded exercise protocol on a bicycle Ergometer. The following parameters were measured, Systolic BP (SBP) in mm Hg, Diastolic BP (DBP) in mm Hg, Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) in mm Hg, Maximum heart rate in beats per minute (bpm), Target heart rate (THR) in beats per minute (bpm), Double product of HR & SBP, Respiratory rate (RR) per minute, maximum volume of oxygen consumption by body in each minute during exercise (VO_2max) in ml/kg/min. At the end of 5 minutes (i.e. during recovery period), subjects PHR 1, PHR 3, PHR 5 was measured. After 2 days of first session, the same participants were given caffeine anhydrous powder in a dose of 6mg/kg of body weight, one hour prior to exercise session and after 5 minutes of exercise session, the above mentioned parameters were measured. All the mentioned parameters before and after caffeine consumption were compared using Paired t-test.

There was statistically significant increase in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, target heart rate, double product of heart rate and systolic blood pressure, in respiratory rate, PHR 1, PHR 3, PHR 5 and significant decrease in VO_2max, after one hour of caffeine consumption with exercise in all female participants.

Present study suggests that ingestion of caffeine (6mg/kg body weight) prior to a short term exercise has an ergogenic effect in a normal young females of age 18–26 years.