NEITHER CAFFEINE NOR CARBOHYDRATE SUPPLEMENTATION IMPROVE CYCLING PERFORMANCE

Rehre, N. J., Cusdin, T., Deutsch, M. (1997). Effects of caffeine and carbohydrate on time trial cycling. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 29(5), Supplement abstract 1434.

The effects of caffeine with and without carbohydrate supplementation on blood glucose and a 30-minute cycling time trial were investigated. Trained male cyclists (N = 15) performed four trials: caffeine plus carbohydrate, placebo plus carbohydrate, caffeine plus aspartame water, and placebo plus water.

Both caffeine and carbohydrate influenced blood glucose but did not affect the 30-minute cycling performance.

Implication. Although blood glucose levels are altered by their supplementation, neither carbohydrate nor caffeine improved performance in a 30-minute cycling time trial.

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