The effects of caffeine on ventilation and pulmonary function during exercise: an often-overlooked response.
The effects of caffeine on exercise performance have been well documented, with most reviews focusing on the metabolic, hormonal, and/or central nervous system effects. However, caffeine's effects on ventilation and pulmonary function are often overlooked. Studies have shown that caffeine is a strong ventilatory stimulant, increasing the sensitivity of the peripheral chemoreceptors in untrained subjects and increasing exercise ventilation at all workloads in highly trained endurance athletes. The consequences of increased exercise ventilation could hold either positive or negative effects for exercise performance. Anti-inflammatory and bronchoprotective effects of caffeine are great enough to consider its efficacy as a possible prophylactic antiasthma treatment. Although an upper urinary concentration limit exists for caffeine with international sports doping control agencies, caffeine's universal accessibility in the marketplace has resulted in its daily use being increasingly more socially acceptable as an ergogenic substance for sport and exercise.
Chapman
Robert F
RF
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. rfchapma@indiana.edu
Mickleborough
Timothy D
TD
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002110:Caffeine