Caffeine, Human Performance and Health
A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2021) | Viewed by 16062
Special Issue Editor
Interests: muscle damage; exercise physiology; exercise testing; sports science; exercise performance; sport physiology; exercise biochemistry; muscle physiology; athletic injuries
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Caffeine has been consumed for thousands of years in different cultures, even though it is a substance which has no nutritional value and is not essential for any basic physiological function. It is highly likely that the first brews prepared with leaves or seeds containing caffeine were used for rituals and ceremonies, but the current use of caffeine is more associated to the physical and mental enhancement obtained with the consumption of different beverages such as coffee, tea, and maté. Today, caffeine has become the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world, and there is a need to completely understand the benefits and drawbacks of this substance when used acutely and chronically, and the difference in the use of natural vs. artificial sources of caffeine. For example, in recent years, research investigating the benefits of acute caffeine intake has rocketed, and we now know that doses from 3 to 6 mg of caffeine per kg of body mass are ergogenic in several exercise and sport contexts. However, we need more evidence to determine the best source to provide caffeine (gum, pills, pre-workout) depending on the characteristics of exercise. Additionally, we need to establish the course of tolerance to the ergogenic effect of caffeine when this substance is consumed chronically. Lastly, it is necessary to determine whether caffeine has any impact in complex sports based on skills and where reaction time is key to success. All this information is key when it comes to amateur and elite use of caffeine-containing supplements before training and competition. On the other hand, the chronic use of caffeine through natural sources has been deemed valuable toward improving cardiovascular health, and protecting against dementia. However, we need more information about what the best source and dosing is to obtain these benefits without creating dependency to this stimulant. Additionally, we need to better understand the factors that explain the different interpersonal reactions to caffeine beverages, the most recommended manner to consume caffeine in terms of digestion and absorption, and how other biologically active compounds present in tea and coffee interact with caffeine to produce further benefits. We also need to know if there are any adverse effects in those individuals ingesting high doses of caffeine for years, as it may be possible that the benefits of caffeine are associated with moderate doses to avoid dependence.
The aim of this Special Issue is to provide data about the benefits of using caffeine or caffeine-containing products on different forms of human performance (with a particular focus on sports performance) and on human health. For this Special Issue, we invite the submission of original research on the abovementioned topics, although we will also assess the inclusion of high-quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses measuring the effects of caffeine on human performance and health.
Dr. Juan Del Coso
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- Exercise
- Sport
- Ergogenic aid
- Diet
- Beverage
- Antioxidants
- Cancer risk
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