No independent or synergistic effects of carbohydrate-caffeine mouth rinse on repeated sprint performance during simulated soccer match play in male recreational soccer players

ABSTRACT

The study examined the synergistic and independent effects of carbohydrate-caffeine mouth rinse on repeated sprint performance during simulated soccer match play. Nine male soccer players (21 ± 3 years, 1.75 ± 0.05 m, 68.0 ± 9.0 kg) completed four trials with either 6 mg·kg⁻¹ caffeine + 10% maltodextrin (CHO+CAFMR), 6 mg·kg⁻¹ caffeine (CAFMR), 10% maltodextrin (CHOMR), water (PLA) in a block randomised, double-blinded, counterbalanced and crossover manner separated by minimum 96 h. All solutions were taste-matched and a carbohydrate-rich meal (2 g·kg⁻¹body mass) was provided 2 h before each trial. Each trial consisted of a 90-min soccer-specific aerobic field test (SAFT⁹⁰) and two bouts of repeated sprint ability tests (RSAT; 6 × 6 s sprints with 24 s recovery) completed at 0 min and 75^th min of SAFT⁹⁰. A 25 ml solution of either CHO+CAFMR, CAFMR, CHOMR or PLA was rinsed immediately before the second RSAT (75 min). Mean power output, peak power output (PPO) or fatigue index (FI) was not impacted by any treatment during the 75^th min RAST (p > 0.05). These results suggest that carbohydrate and/or caffeine mouth rinses do not have an ergogenic effect during simulated soccer exercise after a high carbohydrate meal.

KEYWORDS:

• Mouth-rinse
• running
• performance
• ergogenic aids
• team sports

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the laboratory technician for conducting the double blinding for the solutions and counterbalance of the participants’ order. The authors acknowledge the hard work and commitment of the participants who gave their time to participate in this research project.

Authorship

LG, MC and WF designed the study. WF completed the data collection for the study. LG, WF, MC, AK, MF, NC contributed to the writing of the manuscript. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the paper.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author [LAG].

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

No funding is associated with this study.