Effects of Caffeine Chewing Gum on Exercise Tolerance and Neuromuscular Responses in Well-Trained Runners.

ABSTRACT: Dittrich, N, Serpa, MC, Lemos, EC, De Lucas, RD, and Guglielmo, LGA. Effects of caffeine chewing gum on exercise tolerance and neuromuscular responses in well-trained runners. J Strength Cond Res 35(6): 1671-1676, 2021-This study aimed to investigate the effects of caffeinated chewing gum on endurance exercise, neuromuscular properties, and rate of perceived exertion on exercise tolerance. Twelve trained male runners (31.3 ± 6.4 years; 70.5 ± 6.6 kg; 175.2 ± 6.2 cm; 9.4 ± 2.7% body fat; and V̇o2max = 62.0 ± 4.2 ml·kg-1·min-1) took part of the study. The athletes performed an intermittent treadmill test to determine maximal aerobic speed and delta 50% (Δ50%) intensity. In the following visits, they performed 2 randomized time to exhaustion tests (15.4 ± 0.7 km·h-1) after the ingestion of 300 mg of caffeine in a double-blind, crossover, randomized design. Maximal voluntary contraction of the knee extensor associated to surface electromyographic recording and the twitch interpolation technique were assessed before and immediately after the tests to quantify neuromuscular fatigue of the knee extensor muscles. Caffeine significantly improved exercise tolerance by 18% (p < 0.01). Neuromuscular responses decreased similarly after time to exhaustion in both exercise conditions; however, athletes were able to run a longer distance in the caffeine condition. The performance improvement induced by caffeine seems to have a neuromuscular contribution because athletes were able to run a longer distance with the same neuromuscular impairment.

Is respiratory exchange ratio an alternative to estimate anaerobic threshold in trained runners? / A razão de troca respiratória é uma alternativa para estimar o limiar anaeróbio em corredores treinados?

Abstract Several studies showed that respiratory exchange ratio (RER) have been used as an alternative to evaluate the aerobic capacity in a single incremental test. However, few studies have investigated trained runners. The aim of this study was to verify if the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) could be used as an alternative criterion for estimating anaerobic threshold (AT) in long-distance runners. Nineteen male long-distance runners volunteered to participate in the study. An incremental treadmill test was performed with initial speed of 10 km∙h-1 with increments of 1 km∙h-1 every 1 min until voluntary exhaustion. The variables measured were oxygen uptake (VO2), first and second ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2, respectively), intensity corresponding to RER level of 1.0 (iRER1.0), peak velocity (PV), heart rate (HR), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE). One-way repeated measure analysis variance was used, following Bonferroni post hoc test. Agreement between parameters was evaluated by Pearson correlation and dispersion error. There were no significant differences between iRER1.0 and VT2 parameters. The correlations were significant between iRER1.0 and VT2 parameters for absolute and relative VO2, speed, and HR (r=0.95; r=0.60; r=0.72; r=0.81, respectively). A small mean error (-0.2 km∙h-1) was observed between iRER1.0 and VT2. However, it was also observed an overestimation trend for high speeds. In conclusion, iRER1.0 can be used as an alternative method to detect AT in long distance runners. However, its use is limited in runners with high aerobic capacity.

Resumo Diversos estudos demonstram que a razão de troca respiratória (RER) tem sido utilizada como uma alternativa para estimar a capacidade aeróbia em único teste incremental. No entanto, poucos estudos foram realizados com corredores treinados. Sendo assim, o objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a utilização do RER como uma alternativa para estimar o limiar anaeróbio (AT) em corredores de longa distância. Dezenove corredores de longa distância do sexo masculino participaram do estudo. Foi realizado um teste incremental com velocidade inicial de 10 km∙h-1 com incrementos de 1 km∙h-1 a cada minuto até a exaustão voluntária. As variáveis mensuradas foram consumo de oxigênio (VO2), limiares ventilatórios (VT1 e VT2), intensidade correspondente ao RER no valor igual a 1,0 (iRER1.0), pico de velocidade (PV), frequência cardíaca (HR) e percepção subjetiva de esforço (RPE). Foi realizada a análise de variância de medidas repetidas do tipo one-way, seguido do teste post hoc de Bonferroni. A relação entre as variáveis foi verificada pela correlação de Pearson e a concordância por meio da medida de dispersão dos erros. Não houve diferença significativa entre as variáveis iRER1.0 e VT2. Foram encontradas correlações significativas entre as variáveis iRER1.0 e VT2 para os valores absolutos e relativos de VO2, velocidade e HR (r=0,95; r=0,60; r=0,72; r=0,81, respectivamente). Um pequeno erro médio (-0,2 km∙h-1) foi observado entre iRER1.0 e VT2, bem como uma tendência de superestimação em altas velocidade. Em conclusão, iRER1.0 pode ser utilizado como um método alternativo para detectar o AT em corredores de longa distância, entretanto, seu uso é limitado em corredores com alta capacidade aeróbia.