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We are very excited to have Olympian Craig Pickering, DProfCand on the podcast to talk about all things caffeine and its application to athletic performance.
When Chris first met Craig in the UK, Craig was a sprinter training for the 100m. He competed at the 2008 Olympics in both the 100m and 4 x 100m relay. Craig was also selected for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in bobsleigh. After retiring from professional sport, he took the position of Head of Sports Science at DNAFit, a genetic testing company. Alongside his work, he is also studying for a Professional Doctorate at the University of Central Lancashire, where his interest is in exploring the utility of genetic information in elite sport, with a secondary interest in caffeine.
In particular, Craig discusses two of his published articles:
What should we do about habitual caffeine use in athletes? Sports Medicine, 1-10. Pickering, C., & Kiely, J. (2018).
Are the current guidelines on caffeine use in sport optimal for everyone? Inter-individual variation in caffeine ergogenicity, and a move towards personalised sports nutrition. Sports Medicine, 48(1), 7-16. Pickering, C., & Kiely, J. (2018).
Craig also is quite a popular writer on all topics relating to performance enhancement, and if you follow him on Twitter @craig100m, you can keep up to date with all of his writings.
Sports Med. 2018 Sep 1
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40279-018-0980-7
What Should We Do About Habitual Caffeine Use in Athletes?
Pickering C, Kiely J
Abstract
Caffeine is a well-established ergogenic aid, demonstrated to enhance performance across a wide range of capacities through a variety of mechanisms. As such, it is frequently used by both athletes and non-athletes alike. As a result, caffeine ingestion is ubiquitous in modern society, with athletes typically being exposed to regular non-supplemental caffeine through a variety of sources. Previously, it has been suggested that regular caffeine use may lead to habituation and subsequently a reduction in the expected ergogenic effects, thereby blunting caffeine's performance-enhancing impact during critical training and performance events. In order to mitigate this expected performance loss, some practitioners recommended a pre-competition withdrawal period to restore the optimal performance benefits of caffeine supplementation. However, at present the evidence base exploring both caffeine habituation and withdrawal strategies in athletes is surprisingly small. Accordingly, despite the prevalence of caffeine use within athletic populations, formulating evidence-led guidelines is difficult. Here, we review the available research regarding habitual caffeine use in athletes and seek to derive rational interpretations of what is currently known-and what else we need to know-regarding habitual caffeine use in athletes, and how athletes and performance staff may pragmatically approach these important, complex, and yet under-explored phenomena.
PMID: 30173351
DOI: 10.1007/s40279-018-0980-7
Sports Med. 2018 Jan; 48(1):7-16
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40279-017-0776-1
Are the Current Guidelines on Caffeine Use in Sport Optimal for Everyone? Inter-individual Variation in Caffeine Ergogenicity, and a Move Towards Personalised Sports Nutrition.
Pickering C, Kiely J
Abstract
Caffeine use is widespread in sport, with a strong evidence base demonstrating its ergogenic effect. Based on existing research, current guidelines recommend ingestion of 3-9 mg/kg approximately 60 min prior to exercise. However, the magnitude of performance enhancement following caffeine ingestion differs substantially between individuals, with the spectrum of responses ranging between highly ergogenic to ergolytic. These extensive inter-individual response distinctions are mediated by variation in individual genotype, environmental factors, and the legacy of prior experiences partially mediated via epigenetic mechanisms. Here, we briefly review the drivers of this inter-individual variation in caffeine response, focusing on the impact of common polymorphisms within two genes, CYP1A2 and ADORA2A. Contemporary evidence suggests current standardised guidelines are optimal for only a sub-set of the athlete population. Clearer understanding of the factors underpinning inter-individual variation potentially facilitates a more nuanced, and individually and context specific customisation of caffeine ingestion guidelines, specific to an individual's biology, history, and competitive situation. Finally, we identify current knowledge deficits in this area, along with future associated research questions.
PMID: 28853006
PMCID: PMC5752738
DOI: 10.1007/s40279-017-0776-1
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