Caffeine is recognized as the World’s most commonly used drug and is frequently used by athletes as a nutritional ergogenic aid during training and competition. Caffeine is often administered as a liquid or in a capsule, but new research has shown that caffeine gum has a faster absorption rate and a higher relative bioavailability. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of caffeine gum ingestion on blood lactate and glucose during 1500-m running. Ten well-trained male runners completed a double-blind, placebo controlled experiment. The runners (mean±SD) weight, height, age, and percentage body fat were 66.9±5.82 kg, 172.8±2.69 cm, 22.9±2.76 years, and 14.4±2.06 %, respectively. Chewing gum (4 mg.kg-1 of caffeine) or a placebo was administered at three time points (Thirty-five minutes preexercise, 5 minutes pre-exercise, and immediately following exercise). The participants were instructed to chew for five minutes. Participants raced 1500-m distance. Blood glucose and lactate were measured via a finger prick in any two stages, 5 minutes pre-1500-m running, and immediately following 1500-m running. The rest Interval between two measurement stages was one week. The results indicated (no significantly different between) that blood glucose (p<0.05) and blood lactate (p<0.05) levels over time with the caffeine versus the placebo were not significant. This was one of the first exercise studies conducted that administered caffeine gum and should be used as a starting point for future research on caffeine gum and exercise.
