Caffeine Exacerbates Hyperventilation and Reductions in Cerebral Blood Flow in Physically Fit Men Exercising in the Heat

Introduction: Caffeine is an exercise performance enhancer widely used by individuals engaged in training or competition under heat-stressed conditions. Caffeine ingestion during exercise in the heat is believed to be safe because it does not greatly affect body temperature responses, heart rate, or body fluid status. However, it remains unknown whether caffeine affects hyperthermia-induced hyperventilation or reductions in the cerebral blood flow index. We tested the hypothesis that under conditions inducing severe hyperthermia, caffeine exacerbates hyperthermia-induced hyperventilation and reduces the cerebral blood flow index during exercise. Methods: Using a randomized, single-blind, crossover design, 12 physically active healthy young men (23 +/- 2 yr) consumed a moderate dose of caffeine (5 mg.kg(-1)) or placebo in the heat (37 degrees C). Approximately 60 min after the ingestion, they cycled for similar to 45 min at a workload equal to similar to 55% of their predetermined peak oxygen uptake (moderate intensity) until their core temperature increased to 2.0 degrees C above its preexercise baseline level. Results: In both trials, ventilation increased and the cerebral blood flow index assessed by middle cerebral artery mean blood velocity decreased as core temperature rose during exercise (P < 0.05), indicating that hyperthermia-induced hyperventilation and lowering of the cerebral blood flow occurred. When core temperature was elevated by 1.5 degrees C or more (P < 0.05), ventilation was higher and the cerebral blood flow was lower throughout the caffeine trial than the placebo trial (P < 0.05). Conclusions: A moderate dose of caffeine exacerbates hyperthermia-induced hyperventilation and reductions in the cerebral blood flow index during exercise in the heat with severe hyperthermia.