The effects of TeaCrine® and caffeine on endurance and cognitive performance during a simulated match in high-level soccer players
Background Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric-acid) is a pure alkaloid with a similar structure to caffeine and acts comparably as an adenosine receptor antagonist. Early studies have shown non-habituating effects, including increases in energy and focus in response to Teacrine®, the compound contai...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12970-019-0287-6 |
| _version_ | 1827817739230642176 |
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| author | Marissa L. Bello Alan J. Walker Bridget A. McFadden David J. Sanders Shawn M. Arent |
| author_facet | Marissa L. Bello Alan J. Walker Bridget A. McFadden David J. Sanders Shawn M. Arent |
| author_sort | Marissa L. Bello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric-acid) is a pure alkaloid with a similar structure to caffeine and acts comparably as an adenosine receptor antagonist. Early studies have shown non-habituating effects, including increases in energy and focus in response to Teacrine®, the compound containing pure theacrine. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the effects of Teacrine® and caffeine on cognitive performance and time-to-exhaustion during a simulated soccer game in high-level male and female athletes. Methods Male and female soccer players (N = 24; MAge = 20.96 ± 2.05y, MMaleVO2max = 55.31 ± 3.39 mL/O2/kg, MFemaleVO2max = 50.97 ± 3.90 mL/O2/kg) completed a 90-min simulated treadmill soccer match over four randomized sessions (TeaCrine®, caffeine, TeaCrine® + caffeine, placebo). Cognitive testing at halftime and end-of-game including simple reaction time (SRT), choice RT (CRT), and cognitive-load RT with distraction questions (COGRT/COGRTWrong) was performed, with a run time-to-exhaustion (TTE) at 85% VO2max following end-of-game cognitive testing. Session times and pre-exercise nutrition were controlled. RM-MANOVAs with univariate follow-ups were conducted and significance was set at P < 0.05. Results TTE trended towards significance in TeaCrine® and TeaCrine® + caffeine conditions compared to placebo (P < 0.052). A condition main effect (P < 0.05) occurred with faster CRT in caffeine and TeaCrine® + caffeine compared to placebo. COGRTWrong showed a significant time main effect, with better accuracy at end-of-game compared to halftime (P < 0.05). A time x condition interaction in SRT (P < 0.05) showed placebo improved from halftime to end-of-game. Conclusions The 27–38% improvements in TTE reflect increased performance capacity that may have important implications for overtime scenarios. These findings suggest TeaCrine® favorably impacts endurance and the combination with caffeine provides greater benefits on cognitive function than either supplement independently. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:37:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-194fa762322940069ea8b11ec930ade8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1550-2783 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:37:56Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-194fa762322940069ea8b11ec930ade82023-09-15T09:19:30ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition1550-27832019-04-0116110.1186/s12970-019-0287-612130098The effects of TeaCrine® and caffeine on endurance and cognitive performance during a simulated match in high-level soccer playersMarissa L. Bello0Alan J. Walker1Bridget A. McFadden2David J. Sanders3Shawn M. Arent4IFNH Center for Health and Human Performance, Rutgers UniversityIFNH Center for Health and Human Performance, Rutgers UniversityIFNH Center for Health and Human Performance, Rutgers UniversityIFNH Center for Health and Human Performance, Rutgers UniversityIFNH Center for Health and Human Performance, Rutgers UniversityBackground Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric-acid) is a pure alkaloid with a similar structure to caffeine and acts comparably as an adenosine receptor antagonist. Early studies have shown non-habituating effects, including increases in energy and focus in response to Teacrine®, the compound containing pure theacrine. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the effects of Teacrine® and caffeine on cognitive performance and time-to-exhaustion during a simulated soccer game in high-level male and female athletes. Methods Male and female soccer players (N = 24; MAge = 20.96 ± 2.05y, MMaleVO2max = 55.31 ± 3.39 mL/O2/kg, MFemaleVO2max = 50.97 ± 3.90 mL/O2/kg) completed a 90-min simulated treadmill soccer match over four randomized sessions (TeaCrine®, caffeine, TeaCrine® + caffeine, placebo). Cognitive testing at halftime and end-of-game including simple reaction time (SRT), choice RT (CRT), and cognitive-load RT with distraction questions (COGRT/COGRTWrong) was performed, with a run time-to-exhaustion (TTE) at 85% VO2max following end-of-game cognitive testing. Session times and pre-exercise nutrition were controlled. RM-MANOVAs with univariate follow-ups were conducted and significance was set at P < 0.05. Results TTE trended towards significance in TeaCrine® and TeaCrine® + caffeine conditions compared to placebo (P < 0.052). A condition main effect (P < 0.05) occurred with faster CRT in caffeine and TeaCrine® + caffeine compared to placebo. COGRTWrong showed a significant time main effect, with better accuracy at end-of-game compared to halftime (P < 0.05). A time x condition interaction in SRT (P < 0.05) showed placebo improved from halftime to end-of-game. Conclusions The 27–38% improvements in TTE reflect increased performance capacity that may have important implications for overtime scenarios. These findings suggest TeaCrine® favorably impacts endurance and the combination with caffeine provides greater benefits on cognitive function than either supplement independently.http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12970-019-0287-6theacrinecaffeinesoccercognitive functionendurance |
| spellingShingle | Marissa L. Bello Alan J. Walker Bridget A. McFadden David J. Sanders Shawn M. Arent The effects of TeaCrine® and caffeine on endurance and cognitive performance during a simulated match in high-level soccer players Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition theacrine caffeine soccer cognitive function endurance |
| title | The effects of TeaCrine® and caffeine on endurance and cognitive performance during a simulated match in high-level soccer players |
| title_full | The effects of TeaCrine® and caffeine on endurance and cognitive performance during a simulated match in high-level soccer players |
| title_fullStr | The effects of TeaCrine® and caffeine on endurance and cognitive performance during a simulated match in high-level soccer players |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of TeaCrine® and caffeine on endurance and cognitive performance during a simulated match in high-level soccer players |
| title_short | The effects of TeaCrine® and caffeine on endurance and cognitive performance during a simulated match in high-level soccer players |
| title_sort | effects of teacrine r and caffeine on endurance and cognitive performance during a simulated match in high level soccer players |
| topic | theacrine caffeine soccer cognitive function endurance |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12970-019-0287-6 |
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