The effect of caffeine gum on the performance and salivary testosterone and cortisol levels in male fencers during a simulated competition round.
Subject Areas : Exercise Physiology and Performance
1 - Department of Sports Physiology, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
Keywords: Fencing, Cortisol, Testosterone, performance.,
Abstract :
In this research the effects of consuming caffeine gum during a simulated fencing competition in two parts of periodic and eliminating matches were examined. Fourteen epee weapon male fencers mean age 21.35 ± 2.02 years, the average height 178.05 ± 4.96 centimeters, and mean weight 77.47 ± 7.16 kg completed this double-blind, randomized, counterbalanced study. Fencers divided into placebo group (n=7) (PLC) and caffeine group (n=7) (CAF). Before simulated periodic and before eliminating fencing competitions, players chewed either CAF (400 mg) gum or PLC gum for 5 minutes. Salivary testosterone and cortisol concentrations, and performance (repetitious running test) were measured at baseline, pre-periodic competition, post-periodic competition, pre-eliminated competition, and post-eliminated competition. Caffeine consumption between periodic and elimination competitions had no effect on sprint performance (p=0.995). Sprint time increased after the first attempt in both tests (p=0.003). The first sprint was 3% slower than the initial speed (p=0.004). intake caffeine between periodic and elimination matches influenced salivary testosterone responses (p=0.021, partial-eta2 = 0.471), about 70 percent more in caffeine group vs. placebo group. No further between-trial effects were observed. also, salivary testosterone increased throughout fencing competition (p= 0.001, partial-eta2 = 0.538), about 38% more than baseline values. No differences were observed between baseline and pre-periodic phase (p =0.769). Fencing competitions affected the concentration of salivary cortisol (p=0.032) showing a significant increase from the baseline level before the second survey (p=0.020) and after the second survey (p=0.023). Caffeine consumption between the two halves had no significant effect on salivary cortisol concentration (p=0.098). Athletes and coaches can choose caffeine gum between competition or practice bouts because of the increases in salivary testosterone observed; we must notice that many factors such as caffeine doses and psychological propellant associated with increased motivation and high-intensity exercise performance.
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