Effects of caffeine on physiological responses to exercise in young boys and girls.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the influence of caffeine on physiological responses to exercise in young children and determine whether sex differences in these responses exist.


METHODS
Twenty-six healthy 7- to 9-yr-old boys and 26 healthy 7- to 9-yr-old girls volunteered to participate in a double-blind, randomized, double crossover study design. Each child randomly received both the placebo (PL) and caffeinated (5 mg x kg(-1)) drink (CAF) twice each on four separate days. Following a 1-h wash-in period and resting measures, each child rode a cycle ergometer at 25 and then 50 W for 8 min each, while HR, blood pressure (BP), and oxygen consumption (VO2) were measured.


RESULTS
HR (bpm) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower at rest and at 25 and 50 W in CAF versus PL in both boys and girls. Diastolic BP (mm Hg) was significantly (P </= 0.05) higher at rest, 25 W in both boys and girls, and at 50 W in boys, in CAF versus PL. Systolic BP (mm Hg) was significantly (P </= 0.05) higher at rest in both boys and girls, at 25 W in boys, and at 50 W in girls. During exercise, VO2 (L x min(-1) or mL x kg(-1) x min(-1)) and RER were not different in CAF versus PL in either boys or girls.


CONCLUSIONS
A moderate dose of caffeine (5 mg.kg) does not affect metabolism (VO2 or RER) in young children at low-moderate intensities of exercise. However, CAF causes a significantly lower HR (bpm) and higher BP (mm Hg) in both young boys and girls.
Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Harding University, Searcy, AR, USA. krturley@harding.edu
Kenneth R
KR
Turley
Jonathan W
JW
Gerst
D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010829:Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States
D002110:Caffeine