Caffeine is a highly valued commodity in society due to its ability to help those who consume beverages that contain the compound have more energy, stay focused and be more alert. The perks gained by drinking coffee or tea are beneficial to those who possesses hectic schedules and want an extra “pick me up” to complete those tasks. Those who value caffeine and almost need it to stay on top of their game both in the class and on the field are student-athletes. Between going to class and participating in various sports there isn’t much time for rest. These busy student athletes need some help in the form of a coffee cup to get them to perform at their highest level. Some do not resort to caffeine because of some of the negative side effects and potential risks that come with ingesting too much of the good stuff. Those who do get a buzz off of a cup of joe gain these increases of alertness and energy and this happens on a more molecular level where the caffeine structure inhibits the natural compound known as adenosine that gives us a tired or fatigued feeling throughout the course of the day. An idea was churned up and it was to see if student-athletes could consume something that looked and tastes the same as regular coffee but without caffeine and show similar performance increases in a various set of exercises. The idea of a placebo-based study arose where only precise movements and some cognitive processing would be tested between 2 groups of healthy and capable student athlete participants and compared. So this study was done to do just that and find out if when a placebo of a common cup of Dunkin Donuts ™ caffeinated coffee is replaced unknowingly and given to a subject would he or she show any difference in performing fine motor skill tasks if they just believe what they consumed contained caffeine. The willing and able Endicott College student athlete participants all volunteering for this study were randomized into the 2 separate groups and evaluated using concussion baseline tests to compile coordination and fine motor skill data for further analyze and conclusions.
Introduction
Caffeine is an alkaline crystalline compound, which is found in various beverages and some foods. It is a stimulant and known as the most consumed psychoactive drug in the world (3). This psychoactive drug is legal and unregulated all around the world unlike other more harmful drugs. The US Food and Drug Administration have classified caffeine as generally recognized as safe when the substance is used in moderation. The use of caffeine can become beneficial to us humans but can also become habit forming with extended or excessive use and pose threats to our health as well (9). Caffeine is found in various beverages and some foods. The main beverages include coffee, teas and energy drinks. The most popular among the drinks is coffee and is abundantly consumed worldwide.
Properties of Caffeine
Caffeine follows fundamental methods and pathways of metabolism as many other stimulant drugs like nicotine and cocaine use to gain entry into your nervous system. Primary metabolism pathway of the compound is CYP1A2 (19). The chemical molecule of caffeine binds to a specific neurotransmitter receptor in the brain known as the adenosine receptor. (2,9) This occurs due to the similar double ring structure of caffeine when compared to adenosine. Adenosine molecules that naturally bind to this corresponding receptor results in a biochemical reaction that affects the neurons in your brain to fire sluggishly. Simply put, this is why we get a tired feeling and fatigue humans exhibit as the day progresses. Caffeine works as an adenosine receptor antagonist and as mentioned prior is so similar in structure that the molecules are able to block adenosine but simultaneously does not activate the receptor. In turn, caffeine inhibits the sleepiness feeling by blocking out the adenosine molecules making our bodies feel like we gained more energy. (2,9,19,21)
Risks posed by Caffeine consumption
Caffeine usage has been studied and reported to be beneficial to the human body but with benefits there is always a consequences. With extended and excessive use of caffeine, some risks or side effects can be the result. Some common side effects include severe tiredness, fatigue and tolerance. This tolerance can build up through a regular routine of taking in caffeine (3,4,9)
Sleep disorders have been directly linked to the use of caffeine and the main one being insomnia. Insomnia is a debilitating disorder where the person has extreme difficulty falling or staying asleep. (22) There are many different causes for insomnia, which are psychiatric and medical conditions, unhealthy sleep habits, biological factors and what is the focus of the study specific stimulant substances like caffeine. Researchers actually began to think about insomnia as a problem with the brain being unable to stop shutting down. (6,7,13,21)
Caffeine has been linked to this serious sleeping condition due to the effects of the stimulant on the central nervous system. Since caffeine is a stimulant it possesses the power to give the person ingesting it alertness and the feeling of gained energy (3,20,21) Those who have a moderate amount of intake daily are less susceptible to developing this debilitating disorder that keeps them from getting the proper sleep that the human body and mind requires to maintain mental and physical health. Those who have an excess exposure of intake of the drug have a greater chance of developing the disorder. (21) In this generation, about 30% of people in America are sleep deprived. This stat could be influenced by advancements in technology like excessive use of smartphones and by developing these sleep disorders. (13,15,21,22) Those who already suffer from sleep disorders like insomnia should avoid excess caffeine or stick to the alternative decaffeinated beverages. (13,15,22)
The National Sleep Foundation has published an article and developed a poll which found that people who drank 4 or more cups/cans of caffeinated drinks a day were more likely to experience at least one symptom of insomnia than those who claimed have a daily intake of zero to 1 cups/cans (22).
Doping Policies
Uncertainties have surrounded the substance and its usage in competition by some organizations like the Olympic committees and NCAA have had some controversy. These organizations have implemented different policies to try and prohibit use of the drug because of its due to its unfair advantage it gives athletes by of enhancing different aspects of performance (3). Caffeine is a drug but in relation to other stimulant drugs is not as serious as the others considered Performance Enhancement Drugs (PEDs). PEDs include anabolic steroids used to gain muscle or amphetamines that are used by athletes to gain a substantial advantage over other players. Uses these substances not only carry the risk of being suspended from competition but also carry serious and potentially deadly health risks (3). Athletes who still want to elevate their performance with out guilt or seriously breaking rules they skip the sugary sports drink and turn to a serving of caffeine.
A code of conduct was issued in 2004 called the World Anti-Doping Code restricting athletes from using stimulating drugs such as caffeine under a limitation on blood/caffeine levels. It was put into place at the start of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games (3).
Placebo effect
The placebo effect, the psychology based theory, is the focal point of this current study and was observed closely through the use of decaffeinated coffee as a placebo. The definition of a placebo is a replication drug or treatment that doesn’t pose any physiological effect on a person’s body (1). Researchers in clinical trials often use a placebo to help comprehending what a new drug or a certain treatment might have on a condition. (14,21). In several research studies, passive substances or the dummy pills are used and can essentially produce various positive effects within the body, as long as the patient trusts the treatment’s ability to help in a positive way. (22). Such conditions that have been studied using a placebo treatment are depression, pain, and sleep disorders or menopause. (1,13,14,22). It has been estimated that about 1/3rd of people treated with a “dummy” drug or placebo for a specified medical condition display improvements based solely on their emotional expectations of the treatment (14,21). The placebo effect is known for observing the relationship of the body and mind and the theory is usually rationalized by the person’s expectation. For example people are given a placebo and are told it is a stimulant. After taking a pill, symptoms that could occur include an increased pulse rate speed up, blood pressure increased, and their reaction times may speed up. But when people were given the same pill and those participants are told it will aid in sleeping, the subjects may experience mild tiredness and many opposite effects. (14,16,18,20). Placebos are still partially unclear in the way they work and it is thought to be a rush or increase of feel-good neurotransmitter activity mixed in with endorphins and release of dopamine. (9).
There have been several studies published on athlete testing caffeine ingestion on athletes and comparing how they perform. Some of the studies used a similar method as this study using a placebo of decaffeinated beverages and observed how the athletes reacted to them after consumption.
A prior study that was observed was based on competitive long distance cycling. The researchers were using a placebo of a non-caffeinated, non-caloric drink and compared the athletes to those who were administered a regular energy drink. The athletes were measured on their 35km TT ergometer time, reaction time movement time and mostly the athletes’ endurance and wing gate (3,8). What they concluded with was each rider given the placebo improved performance in all categories by ~3%. (3)
The second study that was looked into was a meta-analysis of effects of caffeine on performance in ball games (5). A large majority of evidence has shown the ergogenic or intension of enhancement in phyical performance properties that caffeine displays went in the human system based on solely endurance. These studies are not in the same classification as other sports that require a higher level of endurance or aerobic activity but require spurts of activity such as baseball, basketball and football (5). In these sports, success is achieved through the combination of technicallity, physiological and cognitive ability. This study measured the performance in total distance, sprinting performance, vertical, agility and accuracy withing the various ball games. Each subject was administered a dosage of caffeine and they participated in exercises measuring the different physical tests and were recorded. Based on the results the caffeine gave the athletes in 8 out of 10 tests improved in sprint performance along with a 7 out of 8 improvement in vertical performance (5). This meta-analysis study also faced negative side effects in 4 out of 19 different studies found. It was aslo observed that the safe amount and effective amount of pre-sport or exercise caffeine ingestion turns out to be between 3-6 mg/kg of the athlete.(5) In ball games it also has the variable of intensity of play and how long you are activley in the game but this study has shown a significan increase in performance after taking a dose of caffeine. (3,5)
The last similar study was based on 20 male golfers in a simulated 18-hole match. The objective of this study was to compare caffeinated golfers through out the course of the match. They measured 5-meter putts, 2-meter putts and overall mood. The researchers recorded the results from each hole for each golfer. The conclusion of the study that the precise movements of putting were I’m proved along with the 2-meter putts. (3) This was due to the lack of fatigue throughout the match. Golf is not necessarily an aerobic sport yet it takes a toll on the body due to its length of play and mental pressure. Caffeine was able to suppress the fatigue one would face through a rigorous 18-hole match. (3).
Most of the studies that were discovered on the similar subject matter were found to test the athletes’ whole performance on a larger scale targeting their strength and endurance. With this study the goal was to model these past studies but measure athletes on the minor more precise movements that are at the base of more major movement and kinesiology.
Concussion baseline testing
To test the effectiveness of coffee and the use of the placebo being decaffeinated coffee, the evaluation targeted student-athletes who participated in a standard concussion baseline test. The students-athletes were observed before and after a dosage of coffee. They were given to each participant directly after completion of the baseline test. The concussion baseline test was chosen due to its ability to acquire data of different cognitive and precise movements, which are looked at to be signs that an athlete has sustained a concussion if the athletes’ scores are lower than their personal baseline.
The aim of this study was to observe the effects on human subjects cognition and kinesiology when decaffeinated coffee was unknowingly replaced with caffeinated coffee. It would have been interesting to see if those given the placebo of decaffeinated coffee experience similar effects such as increased performance as caffeine, which has been displayed in many related studies to boost performance in a group of athletes. It was hypothesized if a student athlete is administered a dose of decaffeinated coffee that is believed to contain caffeine the student athlete will show a significant increase in performance.