Caffeine and exercise

Objective: To summarize the evidence base for caffeine in exercise performance and provide practical guidance for athletes and practitioners. This position stand reviewed acute trials, habitual use data, tolerance considerations, and safety issues relevant to training and competition. Caffeine consistently improved alertness, perceived effort, and several performance endpoints, with the strongest effects seen in endurance tasks, repeated sprint work, and time-trial style events. Benefits were influenced by dose, individual sensitivity, habitual intake, and timing relative to exercise. The document also addressed side effects such as jitteriness, sleep disruption, gastrointestinal upset, and cardiovascular concerns, emphasizing that risk is context dependent. Although the magnitude of benefit varied, the overall body of evidence supported caffeine as one of the most reliable acute ergogenic aids. The statement therefore recommended individualized dosing, attention to competition rules, and caution in populations with contraindications. It remains a foundational consensus reference for sports nutrition and exercise physiology.