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Archive > Year 2010, Number 3

Placebo effects of caffeine on anaerobic performance in moderately trained adults


Authors

Duncan Michael, School of Science, University of Derby

Abstract

This study examined the placebo effect of caffeine on anaerobic exercise in 12 moderately trained male athletes during a Wingate test. A double disassociation protocol was employed consisting of four conditions: Told caffeine/given caffeine (CC, 5 mg•kg-1), told caffeine/given placebo (CP), told placebo/given placebo (PP), told placebo/given caffeine (PC) performed in a randomised order. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to examine differences in peak power output, mean power output, RPE, fatigue index, peak heart rate and peak blood lactate across conditions. Results indicated significant differences in peak power output (PPO), mean power output (MPO) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) across conditions (all p = 0.001). PPO, MPO and RPE were all significantly higher in the CC condition compared to other conditions. These values were significantly lower in the PP condition compared to all other conditions. Values for the CP and PC conditions were lower than for CC but higher than PP. Mean ± SD for PPO (W) were 763.6 ± 78.1, 725.2 ± 59.3, 665.7 ± 62.9 and 714.6 ± 59.2 for CC, CP, PP and PC respectively. Mean ± SD for MPO (W) were 529.4 ± 72.8, 506.9 ± 74.9, 475.9 ± 83.5 and 491.3 ± 77.6 for CC, CP, PP and PC respectively. There were no differences in peak heart rate, fatigue index or peak blood lactate concentration across experimental conditions (all p > 0.05). In conclusion, anaerobic exercise performance was enhanced when participants were told they had caffeine and received it but negatively influenced when they were told they had received a placebo and actually did.

Keywords

Wingate test, ergogenic, beliefs, power output

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