Short-term Effects of Caffeine and a Multi-ingredient Pre-workout on Exercise Performance

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Coffee; Anthocyanins; Exercise Performance

• Registration Number: NCT07024940
• Lead Sponsor: St. Louis University

Brief Summary

The investigators are conducting a study to see how a commercial pre-workout supplement, coffee, and water affect how well people perform. The study is conducted across four visits. The first visit is to assess the participants, and the next three visits are for testing. Each participant will drink a randomly assigned beverage 45 minutes before testing. Throughout the study, the participants will complete three testing days-each at least three days apart-so they can try all three drinks. The first test is the Wingate test, where the participants pedal as fast as they can for 30 seconds against a set resistance. The second test is a 1-mile treadmill run/walk on an incline, where the participant tries to complete the distance as fast as possible. The third test measures reaction time using light-up buttons to see how quickly a participant responds by touching them. These tests will help determine if any of the drinks improve performance. The results can help people choose the best drink for their workouts or races.

Detailed Description

This study is being conducted to evaluate how a commercial pre-workout supplement with multiple ingredients and coffee affects how people perform during exercise testing. The study takes place over 4 separate lab visits. The first lab visit is an assessment for each participant to help define the population to be tested. Then, three testing visits will be identical in design but will differ in the intervention given to the participant. Each participant will consume the pre-workout, coffee, and a placebo in a randomized order. At the beginning of each visit, the participant will consume their assigned beverage. The participants will then start a warm-up after 30 minutes of consuming the assigned beverage. After the 10-minute warm-up, the participant will rest for five minutes before conducting the testing. In the testing visits, participants will conduct a 1-mile treadmill run, in which the participant will determine their speed using a 1% incline. This allows the participant to control the speed, allowing them to try as hard as they can. The next test will be a Wingate cycle ergometer test. The test contains a 20-second warm-up followed by a three-second period where the participant will pedal as fast as they can until the test begins, then they will do an all-out effort for 30 seconds. The participant will then conduct an agility reaction time test to measure any benefits the interventions may have on cognitive function.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2025-04-25
• Status Verified: 2025-06
• Study First Submitted: 2025-06-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-06-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-06-16
• Study First Posted: 2025-06-17
• Last Update Posted: 2025-06-19
• Primary Completion: 2025-08-01
• Study Completion: 2025-09-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 12

Inclusion Criteria

• Are a healthy male or female adult aged 18-35 years old
• Regularly engaged in resistance training or aerobic exercise at least 3 times per week, at least 30 minutes a week for the past 6 months
• Able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• Have a history of or currently have a cardiovascular or metabolic disease (e.g., diabetes, prediabetes, hypertension, arrhythmia, heart attack, stroke, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease)
• History of seizure disorder
• Currently taking prescription medications (e.g., beta-blockers, antidepressants, anti-anxiety, pain killers)
• Currently pregnant, breastfeeding, pregnant within the past year, or a chance of being pregnant
• Recent participation in another clinical trial
• Any sensitivities to caffeine, coffee, berries, maltodextrin, monk fruit extract, or any known food allergies
• Currently undertaking serious exercise training (6 or more days of the week)
• Recently started taking creatine or beta-alanine daily within the past 3 months. (If greater than 3 months taken consistently is okay)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in anaerobic power measured by a 30-second all-out effort on a cycle ergometer	At 45 minutes post-dose for each intervention condition	The primary outcome measured is the change in anaerobic power measured by a 30-second all-out effort on a cycle ergometer using the Wingate testing. This test will determine whether the interventions confer any performance benefit compared to the placebo.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
1-mile Treadmill time trial	At 45 minutes post-dose for each intervention condition	The 1-mile treadmill time trial will help determine if either of the interventions allows for a faster time, translating to an increase in physical performance.
Agility Reaction Time	At 45 minutes post-dose for each intervention condition	Agility reaction time will be measured with light-up buttons, where participants will need to touch the light to measure time. This test will identify if either intervention can reduce reaction time, which may reflect improvements in neuromotor performance.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Saint Louis University; 🇺🇸 Saint Louis, Missouri, United States