Short-term Effects of Caffeine and a Multi-ingredient Pre-workout on Exercise Performance

Launched by ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY · Jun 9, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is looking at how three different drinks—a popular pre-workout supplement, coffee, and plain water—affect exercise performance. Researchers want to find out if any of these drinks can help people perform better during short, intense workouts and quick reaction tests. Participants will visit the study location four times: the first visit is for health screening, and the next three visits involve testing after drinking one of the three beverages, given in a random order. During each test visit, participants will do three activities: a 30-second intense cycling sprint, a one-mile uphill run or walk for speed, and a reaction time test where they respond to lights by pressing buttons as quickly as possible.

To take part, you should be a healthy adult between 18 and 35 years old who regularly exercises at least three times a week. People with certain health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or those taking specific medications, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or those sensitive to caffeine or some ingredients in the drinks cannot join. Participants should expect to complete all testing visits at least three days apart, drinking the assigned beverage 45 minutes before each test. This study could help people better understand which drink might give them an edge during their workouts or races.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Are a healthy male or female adult aged 18-35 years old
• • Regularly engaged in resistance training or aerobic exercise at least 3 times per week, at least 30 minutes a week for the past 6 months
• • Able to provide written informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Have a history of or currently have a cardiovascular or metabolic disease (e.g., diabetes, prediabetes, hypertension, arrhythmia, heart attack, stroke, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease)
• • History of seizure disorder
• • Currently taking prescription medications (e.g., beta-blockers, antidepressants, anti-anxiety, pain killers)
• • Currently pregnant, breastfeeding, pregnant within the past year, or a chance of being pregnant
• • Recent participation in another clinical trial
• • Any sensitivities to caffeine, coffee, berries, maltodextrin, monk fruit extract, or any known food allergies
• • Currently undertaking serious exercise training (6 or more days of the week)
• • Recently started taking creatine or beta-alanine daily within the past 3 months. (If greater than 3 months taken consistently is okay)