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Ergo-Log

18.09.2011


Caffeine raises fat burning after strength training

After an intensive workout the body expends extra energy. Researchers suspect that because of this, strength training can help in maintaining a healthy weight, and they are studying ways of increasing the 'after burn'. One such method is to consume caffeine before pumping iron, as sports scientists at California State University discovered.

EPOC
After a demanding workout muscle cells need to recover. They need to replenish their creatine phosphate and glycogen reserves and restore their buffers. We're not even talking about the recovery of damaged muscle proteins, but this process costs energy too. Researchers measure this increased energy expenditure by measuring oxygen consumption; when the latter is higher, it is called elevated post-exercise oxygen consumption, or EPOC for short.

As far back as 1989 researchers showed that caffeine [structural formula shown below] raised the EPOC of untrained women after a cardio training session. [Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1989; 59(1-2): 48-54.] [Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1992; 65(5): 459-63.]

But does this also happen after a strength training session? And in men who are experienced strength trainers? To answer this question the researchers devised an experiment in which 14 experienced strength athletes aged between 18 and 34 took part.

Study

Caffeine
The test subjects completed the training schedule shown below twice. On one occasion they took a placebo before training and on the other occasion they took 6 mg caffeine per kg bodyweight. For two days before the experiment started the subjects abstained from all foods and beverages containing caffeine.

Results
The caffeine supplement increased the intensity of the training, as you can see in the table below. The mild stimulant raised the post-training energy expenditure by 15 percent, and also reduced the RER. That means that the body was deriving less energy from carbohydrates and more from fat.


Caffeine raises fat burning after strength training


Caffeine raises fat burning after strength training


Caffeine raises fat burning after strength training


When they took the supplement the test subjects burned 24 calories more. That's not a huge amount, in the researchers' opinion. But of course everyone is entitled to his (or her) own opinion.

Source:
J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2011 Mar;51(1):11-7.

More:
Burn more fat for days after just 15 minutes strength training 26.10.2010
Post heavy training energy expenditure comes mainly from fat 12.06.2010
Strict diet reduces post-exercise energy burning 28.12.2009