ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the effects of caffeine supplementation on both strength/power and endurance exercise. It discusses the physiology of caffeine, with particular emphasis on the pharmacokinetics and mechanisms of action. The chapter describes trends in caffeine research, along with the legality and safety of caffeine intake. Caffeine is rapidly and completely absorbed from both the stomach and small intestine within approximately one hour of oral administration. The principal biological mechanism through which caffeine exerts its effect is via the antagonism of adenosine receptors. Research examining the effects of caffeine on strength/power performance was relatively scarce. The effect of caffeine on lifting performance has become a more prevalent area of research, likely due to the fact that resistance training is utilized in many sports for progressive strength and power enhancement. Isometric and isokinetic assessments have been utilized extensively in studies examining changes in strength and power outcomes. The effects of caffeine on anaerobic performance appear to be less convincing.
