This Supplement Enhances Muscle Performance

Scientists in Brazil and Canada have examined the effects of two different doses of caffeine on muscle strength and calcium levels in blood.

Caffeine may enhance muscular strength by altering the capacity of calcium release. This study, published in Nutrients, contributes to a better understanding of the effects of acute caffeine supplementation on muscular strength and calcium release rates, which was previously unclear.

21 male recreationally-trained (that is, neither untrained nor well-trained) volunteers participated in this study. All participants had been actively engaged in at least four hours per week of strength training for the 12 months prior to the beginning of the study.

They didn’t have any pathology or injury that would alter muscle biology and performance. They didn’t smoke. And they had a habitual intake of less than 150 mg per day of caffeine.

At the beginning of the study, the height, body mass, body fat percentage, and related parameters of all participants were measured.

The study consisted of exercise sessions after supplements, with either caffeine or a placebo. Researchers measured blood and other parameters before and after exercise, and performed statistical analysis of the results. The test and the statistical analysis methods were designed to exclude irrelevant factors (e.g., the participants didn’t consume food before the exercises).

Three exercises (bench press, squat, and deadlift) were selected to assess the dose-response relationship between caffeine supplements and strength performance. These exercises permit evaluating muscle performance on the basis of the weights used and the number of repetitions that the participants were able to endure.

The participants randomly received either 6 mg or 8 mg per kilo of body weight of caffeine or a placebo. The caffeine and the placebo were administered using capsules of similar appearance and weight. The two different doses of caffeine permitted studying how the effects of caffeine depend on the dose.

The results of this study suggest that a higher dose of caffeine may help to optimize strength performance. Higher doses of caffeine seem to be related to improvements in strength. The results of this study also suggest a relationship between calcium release in plasma and caffeine consumption in a dose-dependent fashion. Enhanced calcium release was only observed when higher doses of caffeine were applied.

The scientists warn that the findings of this study are specific to caffeine capsules. The findings cannot necessarily be generalized to the effect of caffeine-containing drinks or other substances that involve a combination of other ingredients.

In addition, all participants were recreationally trained young men. Therefore, the findings cannot necessarily be generalized to other populations, including women, youth, and older adults, as well as inactive or well-trained individuals.

Thrivous develops Surge Acute Nootropic to enhance energy and focus. Each serving provides a clinical dose of caffeine, along with complementary nutrients. As indicated by this study, Surge may enhance muscle performance. Thrivous Surge is available for purchase online in the Thrivous store.