Can Caffeine in Large Doses Improve Athletic Performance?

Can Caffeine in Large Doses Improve Athletic Performance?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION: Is there any truth to the idea that caffeine in large doses can
improve athletic performance?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSWER: As a stimulant, caffeine is a double-edged sword that may enhance
your performance in endurance activities (long distance events) but poses
greater health risks that far outweigh any slight performance benefits.
Hence, it is banned by the International Olympic Committee if present in the
urine by more than 15 mu_g/ml. It does not significantly improve performance
for maximal short-term exercise bouts.
Caffeine supposedly assists in endurance events by stimulating the
central nervous system (increasing alertness), increasing the breakdown of
fatty acids (instead of muscle glycogen for energy), and increasing muscle
contraction. Meanwhile, caffeine also masks fatigue, an important warning
sign, which may fool athletes into thinking they are performing better. But
for the body, it's a different story.
Headaches, tremors, nervousness, increased urine production and heart
beat irregularities are harmful effects of caffeine used even in the 200 to
500 mg range. And these dangers increase in severity as the dosage is
increased. Even die-hard endurance athletes would admit that such
caffeine-induced symptoms as increased urine production, irritability, dry
mouth, ringing in the ears, impaired sense of touch, increased muscle pain,
headache and heart beat disturbances probably cancel out any supposed
advantages towards increased endurance performance.
In medicine, much as in life, there always seems to be a price that must
be paid for every desired effect. Sometimes, the advantage is just not worth
the cost.