NCT06638372

Caffeinated Chewing Gum on Special Forces Performance

Caffeinated Chewing Gum on Special Forces Performance: a Cross-over Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 16 (actual)
• Sponsor: National Taiwan Sport University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 20 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this project is to investigate the effects of caffeine chewing gum on the cognitive functions and special operations capabilities of special forces.

Detailed description

Using a randomisation crossover design, 20-40 active-duty special forces members who had undergone leave and special forces reserve training were divided into a caffeine trial (CAF) and a placebo trail (PL). After chewing caffeine-containing gum containing 5 mg/kg (CAF group) or caffeine-free gum (PL group) for 15 minutes, then performed a simple reaction test, a stroop test, a visual search test, a grip strength test, a vertical jump test, a 20-metre sprint test, and a counter-terrorism simulation test. A heart rate monitor was used to measure the heart rate and heart rate variability of the participants. Saliva samples were collected and analysed for α-Amylase, cortisol and caffeine concentrations before the test, after a 15-minute break from chewing gum and at the end of the test. Completion time of cognitive functions, grip strength, vertical jump height, 20 m sprint time, time to completion of the counterterrorism simulation test, and target score will be analysed using paired-sample t-tests.

Conditions

• Caffeine
• Placebo

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	caffeine	The participants chewing either caffeine Gum (CAF trial, containing 3 mg/kg of caffeine) or Placebo Gum (PL) for 10 minutes. After rested for 15 minutes, the participants underwent tests.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-10-05
• Primary completion: 2024-10-06
• Completion: 2025-05-30
• First posted: 2024-10-15
• Last updated: 2025-06-26

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Taiwan