CAF & Firefighters Performance (CAF & FFT)

April 28, 2026 updated by: Chih-Hui Chiu

Effects of Caffeinated Chewing Gum on Functional Firefighting Balance Ability After GABA Supplementation

The aim of the study being to investigate chewing caffeine-containing gum could effectively improve firefighters' balance under conditions of brain fatigue.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

14 healthy adult male active-duty firefighters as participants and used a crossover double-blind design, dividing them into a CAF trial and a PL trial. On the first day of the experiment, after the participants had taken sufficient time off and had a full night's sleep, they rested for 3 hours after dinner on the second day. Following the collection of saliva samples, baseline heart rate variability and firefighting ability tests were conducted. After the tests, the participants ingested 800 mg of GABA and rested for 30 minutes. After that, the participants chewed caffeinated gum containing 3 mg/kg (CAF trial) or caffeine-free placebo gum (PL trial) for 10 minutes, spit it out, rested for 15 minutes. The participants underwent eight firefighting balance tests, during which heart rate variability was measured. After the tests were completed, saliva samples were collected again.

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

  • Taiwan
    • North
      • Taichung, North, Taiwan, 404
        • National Taiwan University of Sport

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:

  • Active-duty members of the Special Search and Rescue Brigade
  • Regularly perform firefighting and disaster relief duties
  • Have fully recovered from sports injuries such as strains or sprains for at least 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Members who are not part of the Special Search and Rescue Brigade.
  • Individuals who do not regularly perform firefighting and disaster relief duties
  • Participants who have not fully recovered from sports injuries for at least 3 months

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: intervention
Chewing caffeine gum for 10 minutes
Dietary supplement: Caffeine (300 mg)
The participants chewing either caffeine Gum (CAF trial, containing 3 mg/kg of caffeine) or Placebo Gum (PL) for 10 minutes.
Other: Placebo
The participants chewing either caffeine Gum (CAF trial, containing 3 mg/kg of caffeine) or Placebo Gum (PL) for 10 minutes.
Placebo Comparator: placebo
Chewing placebo gum for 10 minutes
Dietary supplement: Caffeine (300 mg)
The participants chewing either caffeine Gum (CAF trial, containing 3 mg/kg of caffeine) or Placebo Gum (PL) for 10 minutes.
Other: Placebo
The participants chewing either caffeine Gum (CAF trial, containing 3 mg/kg of caffeine) or Placebo Gum (PL) for 10 minutes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
firefighting balance test
Time Frame: 15 minutes after intervention
Measure the time it takes to return
15 minutes after intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Chih-Hui Chiu

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Chih Hui Chiu, National Taiwan University of Sport

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)

July 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

November 25, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 28, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 28, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 28, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 115-3
  • NTUS (Other Identifier: National Taiwan University of Sport)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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