Rugby Player Sports Performance
Effect of caffeinated gum on a battery of rugby-specific tests in trained university-standard male rugby union players
Mayur Ranchordas from Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom.
This study demonstrated that a low dose of caffeine (200 mg) supplied in gum enhances performance of university standard male rugby players undertaking a battery of rugby specific tests. Moreover, the onset of action was rapid, occurring in performances tests that commenced 5 min after the gum was chewed. This rapid onset of action aligns with the pharmacokinetic study of Kammiori et al. and very recent work in the authors’ laboratory [46]. Such a rapid onset of action has practical application to rugby (and other team sports), because there is often limited time for nutrition intervention during matches such as at half-time and before substitutes enter play. The finding that a low dose of caffeine enhanced performance is practically important, because low doses are less likely to produce adverse effects, which may limit the use of higher doses. Caffeine gum may be less likely to cause gastric irritation than capsules, because a substantial proportion of the dose is absorbed across the buccal mucosa. Accordingly, gum may be useful for players who cannot tolerate caffeinated beverages or capsules before kick-off, because of gastrointestinal distress.
Ranchordas, M.K., Pratt, H., Parsons, M. et al. Effect of caffeinated gum on a battery of rugby-specific tests in trained university-standard male rugby union players. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 16, 17 (2019).
