Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Effects of caffeine on muscle strength: Influence of genetics

Searle, William (2024) Effects of caffeine on muscle strength: Influence of genetics. Master of Research (MRes) thesis, University of Kent,. (doi:10.22024/UniKent/01.02.104976) (KAR id:104976)

Abstract

Research into whether caffeine is ergogenic for muscle strength is uncertain at present. Furthermore, recent research has emerged suggesting that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may influence caffeine response variation, thus influencing performance. Further research on these topics is required to conclude whether caffeine is ergogenic for muscle strength, and whether genotype influences the ergogenicity of caffeine. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of caffeine (5 mg∙kg-1) on muscle strength, muscle activity and neuromuscular function. To also investigate the effects of genotypes (AA or AC/CC) in the CYP1A2 gene on the aforementioned measures. METHODS: Using a double-blind, randomised, repeated crossover design, 16 participants (11 male, 5 female) completed four experimental trials; two caffeine, two placebo, in which muscle strength, muscle activity and neuromuscular function was assessed. Participants were also categorised according to their genotype (AA or AC/CC). RESULTS: Caffeine significantly increased hand grip strength (P = 0.004), voluntary activation (VA) (P = 0.002) and peak surface electromyography (sEMG) for the vastus medialis (VM) (P = 0.02). However, caffeine had no significant effect on knee extension strength (P ≥ 0.05) or peak sEMG for the vastus lateralis (VL) (P ≥ 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that a caffeine dose of 5 mg∙kg-1 consumed 45-minutes prior to exercise is ergogenic for hand grip strength, VA and muscle activity for the VM. However, since no effect on knee extension strength and muscle activity for the VL was observed, further research into these parameters is required to understand the relationship between caffeine and muscle strength. Lastly, the present study found that genotypes in the CYP1A2 gene had no effect on caffeine response variation. However, no participants in the study were homozygous for the C allele, suggesting that future research should look to include a sample size consisting of all three genotypes.

Item Type: Thesis (Master of Research (MRes))
Thesis advisor: Davison, Glen
Thesis advisor: Smith, Samuel
DOI/Identification number: 10.22024/UniKent/01.02.104976
Uncontrolled keywords: caffeine; muscle strength; genetics; polymorphism
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation. Leisure > Sports sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Sport and Exercise Sciences
Funders: University of Kent (https://ror.org/00xkeyj56)
SWORD Depositor: System Moodle
Depositing User: System Moodle
Date Deposited: 13 Feb 2024 10:10 UTC
Last Modified: 19 Feb 2024 10:04 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/104976 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Searle, William.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.