Effects of Different Caffeine Forms on Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise Performance

March 23, 2026 updated by: Mehmet VURAL, University of Gaziantep

Comparative Acute Effects of Caffeine Delivery Forms (Capsule, Chewing Gum, Mouth Rinse) on Aerobic Capacity and Wingate Anaerobic Performance Outcomes in Recreational Male Athletes: A Randomized Counterbalanced Crossover Trial

This study investigated the effects of different caffeine delivery forms on aerobic and anaerobic exercise performance in healthy adults. Participants completed experimental trials involving caffeine capsule ingestion, caffeine gum chewing, and caffeine mouth rinse conditions. Aerobic performance was assessed using maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), and anaerobic performance was evaluated using the Wingate anaerobic test. The study used a randomized crossover design where each participant completed all experimental conditions.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Caffeine is widely used as an ergogenic aid to enhance athletic performance. Different forms of caffeine administration such as capsules, chewing gum, and mouth rinses may produce different physiological responses due to differences in absorption rate and oral receptor stimulation. However, limited research has directly compared these delivery methods within the same participants.

This randomized crossover study aimed to compare the effects of caffeine capsule ingestion, caffeine gum chewing, and caffeine mouth rinse on aerobic and anaerobic exercise performance. Fourteen healthy adults participated in the study and completed experimental trials under each caffeine condition. Aerobic performance was measured using maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), while anaerobic performance was assessed using the Wingate anaerobic test. The results of this study may help clarify the effectiveness of different caffeine delivery forms for improving exercise performance.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

14

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Gaziantep
      • Şehitkamil, Gaziantep, Turkey (Türkiye), 27310
        • Gaziantep University, Faculty of Sport Science (Athletic Performance Laboratory)

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Being a healthy male recreational athlete between the ages of 18-25.

Having at least 2 years of regular training history (3-4 days per week).

Being a non-smoker and having no chronic diseases or musculoskeletal injuries.

Willingness to abstain from caffeine, alcohol, and strenuous exercise 48 hours before each test session.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having a known allergy or sensitivity to caffeine.

Using any other performance-enhancing supplements during the study period.

Failure to adhere to the standardized nutritional or sleep requirements before testing.

Inability to complete all four experimental trials (Capsule, Gum, Rinse, Placebo).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Caffeine Capsule
Participants ingest 300 mg of anhydrous caffeine in tablet form with 100 mL of water exactly 60 minutes prior to exercise. This timing is selected to allow for gastrointestinal absorption and to reach peak plasma concentration.
Other: Comparative Acute Effects of Caffeine Delivery Forms (Capsule, Chewing Gum, Mouth Rinse) on Aerobic Capacity and Wingate Anaerobic Performance Outcomes in Recreational Male Athletes: A Randomized Coun
This study evaluates the acute effects of three distinct caffeine delivery methods compared to a placebo, using a standardized total dose of 300 mg of caffeine across all active interventions. The study is a randomized, single-blind, counterbalanced crossover trial involving 14 recreational male athletes. The interventions are distinguished by their specific absorption kinetics and ecologically valid administration timings
Experimental: Caffeine Gum
Participants chew caffeinated gum (containing 300 mg of caffeine) for 5 minutes, finishing just before the exercises begin. This method utilizes rapid transmucosal absorption through the oral mucosa to potentially bypass first-pass metabolism.
Other: Comparative Acute Effects of Caffeine Delivery Forms (Capsule, Chewing Gum, Mouth Rinse) on Aerobic Capacity and Wingate Anaerobic Performance Outcomes in Recreational Male Athletes: A Randomized Coun
This study evaluates the acute effects of three distinct caffeine delivery methods compared to a placebo, using a standardized total dose of 300 mg of caffeine across all active interventions. The study is a randomized, single-blind, counterbalanced crossover trial involving 14 recreational male athletes. The interventions are distinguished by their specific absorption kinetics and ecologically valid administration timings
Experimental: Caffeine Mouth Rinse
Participants rinse with 25 mL of a 1.2% caffeine solution (containing 300 mg of caffeine) for 10 seconds immediately before the exercises and then expectorate the solution completely. Swallowing is strictly prohibited to ensure the effect is triggered primarily through oropharyngeal receptors rather than systemic absorption.
Other: Comparative Acute Effects of Caffeine Delivery Forms (Capsule, Chewing Gum, Mouth Rinse) on Aerobic Capacity and Wingate Anaerobic Performance Outcomes in Recreational Male Athletes: A Randomized Coun
This study evaluates the acute effects of three distinct caffeine delivery methods compared to a placebo, using a standardized total dose of 300 mg of caffeine across all active interventions. The study is a randomized, single-blind, counterbalanced crossover trial involving 14 recreational male athletes. The interventions are distinguished by their specific absorption kinetics and ecologically valid administration timings

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Aerobic Capacity (VO2max)
Time Frame: Measured after each 48-hour washout period following the specific caffeine or placebo intervention
Description: Estimated maximal oxygen uptake calculated via the 20-meter shuttle run test (Beep Test).Metric: Milliliters per kilogram per minute (ml/kg/min)
Measured after each 48-hour washout period following the specific caffeine or placebo intervention
Aerobic Capacity (VO2max)
Time Frame: Measured after each 48-hour washout period following the specific caffeine or placebo intervention
Estimated maximal oxygen uptake calculated via the 20-meter shuttle run test (Beep Test).
Measured after each 48-hour washout period following the specific caffeine or placebo intervention
Anaerobic Average Power
Time Frame: Measured after each 48-hour washout period following the specific caffeine or placebo intervention.
The mean power output maintained over the duration of a 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test
Measured after each 48-hour washout period following the specific caffeine or placebo intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Gaziantep

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

  • https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.34607
  • https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0776-1
  • https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2019.1601261
  • https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-014-0257-8
  • https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-100278
  • https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57010008
  • https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0848-2
  • https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-020-00383-4
  • https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2021-0070
  • https://doi.org/10.23751/pn.v25i3.14659

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

October 10, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

November 10, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

March 10, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 23, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 23, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 23, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • GAUN-EXERCISE-CAFFEINE

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

The individual participant data that underlie the results reported in this article, after de-identification (text, tables, figures, and appendices), will be made available to researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal. Data will be available beginning 6 months and ending 36 months following publication. Requests should be directed to mehmetvrl27@hotmail.com. To gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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