Arab Journal of Nutrition and Exercise

Published date: Sep 10 2025

Journal Title: Arab Journal of Nutrition and Exercise

Issue title: AJNE: Vol 8, No 1 (2025)

Pages: 2 - 14

DOI: 10.18502/ajne.v8i1.15225

Amir Khcharemamir.khcharem@isseps.usf.tnResearch Laboratory, Education, Motricity, Sport and Health (EM2S), High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, University of Sfax, Sfax

Liwa MasmoudiResearch Laboratory, Education, Motricity, Sport and Health (EM2S), High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, University of Sfax, Sfax

Zouheir SahnounResearch Unit, Laboratory of Pharmacology, UR12 ES13, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of low-dose caffeine intake on mood and cognition before and after an endurance exercise.

Methods: Thirteen physical education students performed two test sessions in a double-blind randomized order. At each session, participants ingested a capsule containing 3 mg/kg body mass of caffeine or a placebo. An hour later, they performed an exhaustive run around an outdoor athletic 400 m track. Psychological and cognitive tests were carried out before and after the run.

Results: Relative to placebo, caffeine consumption improved attention by 11.5% (p < 0.05) and reaction time by 8.2% (p < 0.05), increased the sense of good feeling by 43% (p < 0.01), and lowered stress-feeling by 22.1% (p < 0.05), drowsiness by 22.7% (p < 0.01), and pain-sensation by 13.5% (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Our study highlighted that 3 mg/kg body mass caffeine intake enhanced mood and cognition at rest and after the exhaustive endurance exercise. These findings may guide future use of low-dose caffeine to optimize endurance performance.

Keywords: caffeine, endurance exercise, mood, cognition, young athletes

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