Khodadadi, DavarAzimi, FarhadMoghanlou, Abdorreza EghbalGursoy, RecepDemirli, AbdullahJalali, ParhamBehdari, Reza2025-03-262025-03-2620251941-73811941-092110.1177/194173812513150932-s2.0-85217010023https://doi.org/10.1177/19417381251315093https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14704/944Background: Acute caffeine ingestion can improve exercise performance. Interplay between caffeine habituation and training status on the performance-enhancing effect of caffeine is unknown. Hypothesis: Habitual caffeine consumption and training status affect the ergogenicity of pre-exercise caffeine intake on exercise performance. Study Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced experimental design. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: Eighty physically inactive men were randomized into 1 of 4 groups: caffeine supplementation (CAF), caffeine supplementation + exercise training (CAFEXE), placebo (PLA), and placebo + exercise training (PLAEXE); high-intensity interval training and caffeine were administered for 9 and 8 weeks, respectively. Data were collected pre-test, mid-test, post-test, and delayed post-test, each including 2 experiment sessions (3 mg/kg caffeine or placebo), with an additional experiment session post-test (6 mg/kg caffeine). In each experiment session, 45-min after consuming a placebo or caffeine, a 3-km running test and a Wingate power test were performed. Results: Pre-exercise ingestion of 3 mg/kg caffeine improved 3-km running time and mean power output (MPO) in all groups at all stages (P < 0.05); this effect was higher in trained than in untrained volunteers (P < 0.05). Habitual caffeine consumption reduced the ergogenic effect of caffeine in both aerobic and anaerobic trials (P < 0.05); 6 mg/kg caffeine enhanced this decrease only in CAFEXE (P < 0.05). Short-term caffeine withdrawal augmented the reduced ergogenic effect of caffeine on 3-km running performance and MPO in CAF and CAFEXE (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Habituation to caffeine and training status could partially influence the ergogenic effects of caffeine on exercise performance.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccesscaffeine habituation; ergogenic aid; exercise performance; high-intensity interval training; training statusArticle39905628Q1WOS:001414731800001Q1