Carbohydrate versus caffeinated-carbohydrate beverages: effects on exercise performance and hydration status at rest and during exercise

Abstract

Carbohydrate versus caffeinated-carbohydrate beverages: effects on exercise performance and hydration status at rest and during exercise. The consumption of sports drinks to enhance athletic performance had been the subject of extensive research for many years. Critical areas of interest are the volume and timing of fluid ingestion and the source and concentration of carbohydrate (Coombes and Hamilton, 2000). In addition, the use of caffeine to enhance exercise performance has been widely researched (Graham and Spriet, 1995; Cox et al., 2002; Kovacs et al., 1998). However, the use of a rehydrating beverage containing caffeine is not recommended because of the proposed diuresis associated with caffeine. Scientific research investigating commercially available sports drinks and possible benefits associated with the addition of caffeine to carbohydrate drinks is limited. Therefore the principal aims of the research described in this dissertation were to investigate the effect of carbohydrate and caffeinated carbohydrate ingestion on exercise performance at various intensities and on rehydration following exercise induced hypohydration and voluntary fluid restriction.