Clinical Scorecard: Low-Dose Caffeine May Improve Aerobic Time-Trial Performance

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Low-dose caffeine (1.3–3 mg/kg) improves aerobic time-trial performance.
• Moderate-dose caffeine (4–6 mg/kg) shows a more consistent ergogenic effect.
• The review included 48 randomized, placebo-controlled trials with 689 participants.
• Caffeine doses categorized as low, moderate, or high based on mg/kg.
• Interindividual variability in caffeine responsiveness noted.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

Management

• Pre-exercise use of low and moderate caffeine doses may enhance aerobic performance.

Monitoring & Follow-up

Risks

• Potential adverse effects include anxiety, heart palpitations, headaches, insomnia, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Healthy adults aged 18 to 59 years engaging in aerobic exercise.

Low and moderate caffeine doses are effective supplementation strategies.

Clinical Best Practices

• Consider individual sensitivity and genetic factors affecting caffeine metabolism.
• Evaluate the risk–benefit profile of high-dose caffeine in future studies.

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