Sport and caffeine: a team supported by science

Caffè Aiello has always been a strong supporter of sport and often, scientific research on the effects of caffeine on sporting performances has provided the foundations for constructive dialogues between our company and the athletes and sports associations we partner.

Most of the energy drinks on the market today contain caffeine. As a cardiovascular stimulant, it stimulates the production of adrenaline, as we saw when we analysed the benefits of drinking coffee in the summer.

And there are many other scientific studies that have reached similar conclusions. Read on to learn about the main focuses of four research projects on the links between caffeine and sport, which study its benefits and effects on performance before and after sporting activities.

The benefits of consuming caffeine before sport

According to the Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition, caffeine:
– Improves performance because it has an ergogenic effect that improves endurance in both sprinting events and stamina-based sports.
– When combined with exogenous carbohydrates, enhances the muscle glycogen resynthesis process during the period of recovery from physical activity.
– Improves concentration and maintains attention levels high during sport.

According to the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), caffeine:
– Burns fat extremely efficiently, especially during prolonged aerobic exercise.
– Blocks the adenosine receptors of the adipocytes and has a lipolytic effect.
– Accelerates the metabolism, heart rate and blood pressure by boosting the sensation of energy during the sporting performance.
– Increases stamina and concentration.
– Reduces the feelings of tiredness and fatigue perceived before and during a strenuous sporting activity.

The benefits of consuming caffeine after sport

According to the Journal of Applied Physiology:
– Caffeine has the ability to preserve and store adenosine triphosphate (ATP), our “muscle fuel”.
– When consumed with carbohydrates, it produces (about four hours later) a 66% increase in muscular glycogen compared to that experienced by those who only consume pure carbohydrates.
– The known anti-oxidising and anti-inflammatory properties of caffeine mean that the sportsperson’s muscle mass is nourished.
– Caffeine stimulates the diaphragm, facilitating a greater intake of oxygen.
– It helps the sportsperson quickly regain the energy lost during sports.

According to Sacha Sorrentino, nutritional biologist:
– Caffeine is especially effective in improving high-stamina sporting performances such as those required of cyclists and runners.
– It reduces the impact with which physical effort is perceived, increasing concentration and clarity of thought since it opposes the receptors of the neurotransmitter (adenosine) involved in important biochemical processes, including the regulation of our blood pressure and sleep-wake rhythms.
– Caffeine stimulates the enhanced activation of the motor neurons, especially those that facilitate muscle contraction, providing relief after the most strenuous sporting performances.
– It improves the effectiveness of the muscular recovery phase, reducing recovery times.