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Publication AbstractsCombined Caffeine and Ephedrine Ingestion Improves Run Times of Canadian Forces Warrior TestBell DG, Jacobs IAviat Space Environ Med 1999; 70:325-9 AbstractThe ingestion of a combination of caffeine (C) and ephedrine (E) has been reported to prolong exercise time to exhaustion during cycle ergometry at 85% V(dot)o2max. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether this enhancement would occur in a field setting and if drug ingestion on 1 d would affect performance 1 d later. Two hours after ingesting either a combination of 375 mg of C and 75 mg E (C+E), or a placebo (P), 9 healthy male recreational runners completed six balanced and double-blind trials of the Canadian Forces Warrior Test (WT), a 3.2 km run wearing "fighting order" which weighed about 11 kg. The trials were performed in sets of two runs, i.e., two runs were done 24 h apart, and these sets were separated by a minimum of 7 d. The sets were: C+E trial on day 1 (D1), placebo on day 2 (P2); placebo first (P1), C+E second (D2); and placebo first (P3), placebo second (P4). In addition, 1 wk before the treatment trials the subjects performed a control trial WT. During the WT, heart rates (HR) were recorded every minute. Plasma C and E levels immediately before the WT were similar for both C+E trials, but were undetectable for all P trials. Run times (mean ± SD) were 15.3 ± 0.6, 15.4 ± 0.9, 15.5 ± 1.2, 15.4 ± 0.9, 15.4 ± 0.9, 14.8 ± 0.7, and 14.6 ± 0.8 min for control, P1, P2, P3, P4, D1, D2 trials, respectively. The two C+E trial run times were similar and both were significantly faster (p < 0.05) than control and all placebo trials. HR during the WT was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for the C+E trials compared with the other trials. WT performance was not impaired by C+E ingestion 24 h earlier. In conclusion, performance of the WT was improved by ingestion of C+E.Keywords: ergogenic aids, methyl xanthines, aerobic exercise, V(dot)o2max, physical fitness. Information on subscribing, and on obtaining copies of an article or of an entire issue. Table of Contents for Volume 70, Number 4 of the ASME journal.
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