How coffee and a multi-ingredient pre-workout affect short-term exercise performance
Acute Effects of Coffee, Anthocyanin-Caffeine Supplement and Placebo on Exercise Performance Markers
This study will test whether a commercial pre-workout, Ethiopian coffee, or water helps short-term exercise and reaction performance in healthy adults aged 18–35 who exercise regularly.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 12 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | St. Louis University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (St Louis, Missouri) |
| Trial ID | NCT07024940 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a randomized crossover study with four lab visits: one assessment visit and three testing visits where each participant tries a different drink (pre-workout, coffee, or placebo water). Participants consume the assigned beverage before a standardized warm-up, then complete three performance tests on each test day. The tests include a self-paced 1-mile treadmill run at 1% incline, a 30-second Wingate cycling sprint, and an agility reaction-time test using light-up buttons. Testing visits are separated by at least three days and the trial enrolls healthy, regularly exercising adults without major medical conditions or caffeine/ingredient sensitivities.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Healthy men and women aged 18–35 who exercise at least three times per week and have no cardiovascular, metabolic, seizure disorders, pregnancy risk, or known sensitivities to the study ingredients are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with cardiovascular or metabolic disease, seizure history, pregnancy or recent pregnancy, certain prescription medications, heavy daily training (6+ days/week), or sensitivities to caffeine or the ingredients are unlikely to benefit and are excluded.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help recreational exercisers choose whether coffee or a multi-ingredient pre-workout gives a short-term boost for runs, sprints, or reaction tasks.
How similar studies have performed: Many prior studies show caffeine and coffee often improve short-term aerobic and anaerobic performance and some multi-ingredient pre-workouts show similar but variable benefits.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Are a healthy male or female adult aged 18-35 years old * Regularly engaged in resistance training or aerobic exercise at least 3 times per week, at least 30 minutes a week for the past 6 months * Able to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Have a history of or currently have a cardiovascular or metabolic disease (e.g., diabetes, prediabetes, hypertension, arrhythmia, heart attack, stroke, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease) * History of seizure disorder * Currently taking prescription medications (e.g., beta-blockers, antidepressants, anti-anxiety, pain killers) * Currently pregnant, breastfeeding, pregnant within the past year, or a chance of being pregnant * Recent participation in another clinical trial * Any sensitivities to caffeine, coffee, berries, maltodextrin, monk fruit extract, or any known food allergies * Currently undertaking serious exercise training (6 or more days of the week) * Recently started taking creatine or beta-alanine daily within the past 3 months. (If greater than 3 months taken consistently is okay)
Where this trial is running
St Louis, Missouri
- Saint Louis University — St Louis, Missouri, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Hossein Rafiei, PhD — St. Louis University
- Study coordinator: Dylan Moffatt, Bsc
- Email: dylan.moffatt@slu.edu
- Phone: 314-977-8675
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.