Impact of Caffeine Intake Strategies on Heart Rate Variability During Post-Exercise Recovery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Bianca Araujo Almeida; Anderson Pontes Morales; José Ricardo Claudino Ribeiro; Yasmin Garcia Ribeiro; Felipe Sampaio-Jorge; Thiago Barth; Beatriz Gonçalves Ribeiro

doi:10.2174/011573403X289842240307114736

Impact of Caffeine Intake Strategies on Heart Rate Variability During Post-Exercise Recovery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Curr Cardiol Rev. 2024 Mar 14. doi: 10.2174/011573403X289842240307114736. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Bianca Araujo Almeida¹, Anderson Pontes Morales¹, José Ricardo Claudino Ribeiro², Yasmin Garcia Ribeiro¹, Felipe Sampaio-Jorge¹, Thiago Barth³, Beatriz Gonçalves Ribeiro¹

Affiliations

¹ Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Research and Innovation Laboratory in Sports and Nutrition Sciences (LAPICEN), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé, RJ, Brazil Rio de Janeiro Brazil.
² State University of Minas Gerais Minas Tennis Club, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Minas Gerais Brazil.
³ Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Laboratory of Natural Products, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé, RJ, Brazil. Rio de Janeiro Brazil.

PMID: 38494935
DOI: 10.2174/011573403X289842240307114736

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the influence of caffeine (CAF) intake strategies, taking into account their form, timing, and dosage, on heart rate variability (HRV) indices in the post-exercise recovery period.

Methods: The meta-analysis adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and is registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023425885). A comprehensive literature search was carried out across MEDLINE, Web of Science, LILACS, and SCOPUS, concluding in May 2023. We concentrated on randomized clinical trials comparing CAF supplementation effects to placebo on HRV indices post-exercise in active adults aged 18 and above. The primary endpoint was the assessment of HRV indices, measured both prior to and following exercise.

Results: Of the 10 studies included, 7 were used for the meta-analysis, and all contributed to the systematic review. The research explored a variety of CAF strategies, spanning different forms (capsule, drink, gum), times (10, 45, 60 min) and doses (2.1 to 6.0 mg/kg). The outcomes revealed no substantial variations between the placebo and CAF conditions in terms of both the square root of the average of successive squared differences between adjacent RR intervals (RMSSD) (standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.03, 95% CI -0.265 to 0.197, p=0.77) and high frequency (HF) index (SMD -0.061, 95% CI -0.272 to 0.150, p=0.57). Furthermore, metaregression analysis, employing a fixed-effects model and accounting for the administered CAF doses, revealed no significant correlation between caffeine doses and HRV indices (p>0.05).

Conclusion: In conclusion, there is moderate-certainty evidence suggesting that different CAF intake strategies, encompassing aspects such as form, time, and dose, do not have a significant impact on HRV indices recovery post-exercise (i.e., vagal modulation).

Keywords: Dietary supplements; autonomic nervous system; caffeine; exercise.; heart rate; metabolism.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis