A group of eight cyclists took part in three, two-hour exercise sessions. Before the sessions, each was given one of three different sports drinks: glucose, glucose mixed with caffeine, and water.
Results showed caffeine increased the amount of carbohydrates absorbed from the sports drink. The more energy the body absorbs from the drink, the less energy used from the body's energy stores.
Director of the university's Human Performance Laboratory, Dr. Asker Jeukendrup, said the results do not prove caffeine is a performance enhancer, but simply show caffeine has an effect on the body's carbohydrate intake.
Test subjects were given a dosage of caffeine equivalent to drinking four cups of coffee an hour. In future experiments, less caffeine will be used He added this experiment was conducted to find whether or not caffeine had an effect on the body's energy.
In the future, Jeukendrup says he will include performance enhancement in the study by controlling the subjects' exercise, diet, temperature and motivation to perform.
