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Study note

Caffeine increases strength and power performance in resistance-trained females during early follicular phase.

Updated Oct 17, 2026

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Human researchScandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports2020Read the source on PubMed

What the study found

Caffeine improved several strength, jump and muscular-endurance measures; rate of force development and measured muscle activation did not differ. Three participants reported mild side effects.

Participants and protocol

Fifteen resistance-trained women completed caffeine and placebo trials during the early follicular phase in a randomized double-blind crossover study.

Keep the outcome and population exact

This randomized trial studied an acute caffeine dose and strength or repetition performance in resistance-trained women during a defined menstrual-cycle phase. It did not test endurance time trials or time to exhaustion, despite those automated outcome labels.

The conservative training takeaway is not “take caffeine for every session.” It is that an acute response observed in a specific resistance-training protocol may not transfer to HYROX racing, running, cycling or an individual's tolerance. If caffeine is already appropriate, test a familiar amount well before competition and record sleep, anxiety, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular response.

Confirm participants, dose and outcomes in the PubMed record. Caffeine can interact with health conditions, pregnancy, medication and sleep. Seek individualized guidance where relevant and do not combine unfamiliar stimulant products.

What this cannot establish

A study in one menstrual phase cannot establish differences between phases. Results in caffeine-habituated strength athletes do not establish a personal dose, endurance benefit or absence of risk.

Publication details
Record
PubMed 32681596
Publication types
Randomized Controlled Trial
Indexed subjects
Knee · Caffeine · Cross-Over Studies · Double-Blind Method · Perception
Source record checked
2026-10-18

Publication type and subject indexing describe the record; they are not a quality grade or proof of a benefit. An abstract does not replace a review of the full methods and results.

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