Caffeine decreases ammonemia in athletes using a ketogenic diet during prolonged exercise
Eduardo Prado Nutrition Available online 2 June 2021, 111377
Highlights
• Caffeine reduced ammonemia caused by endurance exercise in humans;
• Caffeine decreases urea synthesis increasing uratemia;
• Caffeine increases glucose availability and lactatemia.
Purpose
Both exercise and a ketogenic (low-carbohydrate) diet favor glycogen depletion and increase ammonemia, which can impair physical performance. Caffeine supplementation has been routinely used to improve exercise performance. Herein, the effect of xanthine was evaluated on ammonemia in cyclists who were placed on a ketogenic diet and engaged in prolonged exercise.
Research Methods & Procedures
Fourteen male cyclists followed a ketogenic diet for two days prior to and during the experimental trial. The cyclists were divided into caffeine-supplemented (CEx, n = 7) and placebo-supplemented (LEx, n = 7) groups. Blood samples were obtained during cycling and recovery periods.
Results
The CEx group showed a significant decrease (up to 25%) in blood ammonia at 60 min, 90 min and 120 min after beginning exercise compared with the LEx group. A higher concentration of apparent blood urea was observed in the LEx group than in the CEx group at 60-90 min of exercise (∼ 10%). In addition, a significant increase in blood glucose levels was evident at 30 min of exercise (∼ 28%), and an increase in blood lactate levels was visible during the first 30-60 min of exercise (∼ 80%) in the CEx group.
Conclusion
Our results suggested that the use of caffeine might attenuate the increase in ammonemia that occurs during exercise.