Pre-Exercise Caffeine Intake Attenuates the Negative Effects of Ramadan Fasting on Several Aspects of High-Intensity Short-Term Maximal Performances in Adolescent Female Handball Players

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to determine whether, after Ramadan, pre-exercise caffeine intake can reduce any possible negative effects of this month on short-term maximal performances in young female handball players. A randomized study involved thirteen young female handball players. Participants performed a squat jump (SJ), Illinois agility test (AG), and 5 m run shuttles test (total (TD) and peak (PD) distances) at 08:00 AM and 06:00 PM on three different occasions: one week before Ramadan (Pre-R), the last week of Ramadan (R), and the week after Ramadan (Post-R). A placebo (Pla) or caffeine (Caff) (6 mg·kg−1) was administered 60 min before exercise test sessions at two distinct times of day (08:00 AM and 06:00 PM) during the two periods: Pre and Post-R. The PSQI and dietary intake were assessed during all testing periods. The results revealed that Pre-R, (SJ, AG, TD, and PD) test performances were greater in the evening (PM) than in the morning (AM) (all p p p p p p p > 0.05, p > 0.05, p p −1 reduced the negative effects of Ramadan fasting in several aspects of short-term maximal performances in young female handball players at both times of the day.

Keywords

• Ramadan intermittent fasting
• caffeine time of the day
• physical performance
• sleep quality
• female athletes