A time and a place: A framework for caffeine periodization throughout the sporting year

Abstract

Caffeine is a well-established ergogenic aid, with its performance-enhancing effects demonstrated across a variety of sports and exercise types. As a result of these ergogenic properties, caffeine is widely used by athletes at all levels around both competition and training. Caffeine exerts its performance benefits through a variety of mechanisms, each of which may be of increased importance at a given stage of training or competition. Additionally, regular caffeine use may diminish the performance-enhancing effects of a subsequent dose of caffeine. Recently, interest in the concept of nutritional periodization has grown. Here we propose a framework for the periodization of caffeine through the sporting year, balancing its training and competition performance-enhancing effects, along with the need to mitigate any negative effects of habituation. Furthermore, the regular use of caffeine within training may support the development of positive beliefs toward caffeine by athletes-potentially serving to enhance future performance through placebo and expectancy mechanisms-as well as allowing for the optimization of individual athlete caffeine strategies. Although future work is required to validate some of the suggestions made, the framework proposed here represents a starting point for athletes to maximize caffeine's performance benefits across the sporting year. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.]