AzTrials
AzTrials

Adult PopulationPhase 4AECNCT03400423

The Acute Effects of Caffeine on Exercise and Cognition

A Phase 4 study testing Caffeine and Moderate Intensity Exercise in people with Adult Population, run by Western University, Canada at 1 site in Canada.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

The effects of moderate intensity aerobic exercise and caffeine ingestion on cognition (more specifically working memory) in non-caffeine drinker and caffeine drinkers will be examined. The non-caffeine drinkers will be recruited for two visits, whereas, the caffeine drinkers will be recruited for three visits. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 64 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Adult Population
What is being tested?
Caffeine and Moderate Intensity Exercise
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
64 participants
Where
1 siteCanada
Study dates
1 Feb 2018to 1 Aug 2019
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 64 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Are over the age of 18 years (male or female)
  • Do not consume more than 100 mg of caffeine a week
  • Do not have any cognitive problems
  • Are not pregnant
  • Do not have a medical condition that prevents you to exercise
  • Do not have an orthopaedic limitation
Show all 16Show fewer
  • Have access to a telephone or an email account for communication
  • Can read and write in English You are being invited to take part in phase 2 and 3 of this research study because
  • Are over the age of 18 years old
  • Are consuming at least 150 mg of caffeine a day
  • Do not have any cognitive problems
  • Are not pregnant
  • Do not have a medical condition that prevents you to exercise
  • Do not have an orthopaedic limitation
  • Have access to a telephone or an email account for communication
  • Can read and write in English

Who cannot join

  • Potential subjects will be excluded if they are pregnant. Additionally, participants taking prescription medication for depression or anxiety, and participants that cannot give informed consent will be excluded.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Canada1 site
  • Western University

    London, Ontario

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: The Acute Effects of Moderate Intensity Exercise and Caffeine Ingestion on Cognition in Non-Caffeine Consumers and Caffeine Consumers

The effects of moderate intensity aerobic exercise and caffeine ingestion on cognition (more specifically working memory) in non-caffeine drinker and caffeine drinkers will be examined. The non-caffeine drinkers will be recruited for two visits, whereas, the caffeine drinkers will be recruited for three visits. The study involves a baseline assessment of cognition and examines the effects of exercise and caffeine. Finally the caffeine group will consist of a baseline and intervention assessment when deprived of caffeine (overnight abstinence). The exercise intervention is to complete 20-minutes of moderate intensity exercise (brisk walk) while the caffeine condition is to consume 1.2 mg/kg of caffeine. Immediately following both intervention the n-back assessment will be conducted.

Read the detailed description

Phase 1 will assess non-caffeine consumers

Phase 1 will utilize a within subjects counter-balanced design. Previous to arrival for phase 1, participants will be asked to abstain from alcohol and drugs for at least 18 hours previous. Participants will be urged to arrive at the same time for each visit. Upon arrival to the Exercise and Health Psychology lab (located in room 408 of the Arthur and Sonia Labatt Health Science Building at Western University) participants will be given the letter of information, and asked to sign the informed consent form. After consent, participants will also be asked to complete a demographic survey, PAR-Q readiness for exercise, Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, caffeine consumption questionnaire-R (CCQ-R) and a caffeine withdrawal questionnaire (CWSQ). Vitals (heart rate and blood pressure) will be assessed following the completion of the questionnaires as well as post intervention in the seated position. Prior to evaluation on the N-back task (cognitive memory task described below) a practice stage with be conducted until the participant can consistently score 75% or higher on three consecutive trials to eliminate a learning effect. After establishing test familiarity, a baseline cognition score will be conducted through the n-back assessment. The subject will then be given a 5-minute break (i.e., to use the lavatory). Following the break, the participants will be randomized into either moderate intensity exercise or caffeine ingestion group. The interventions are as follows; Moderate Intensity Exercise will consist of a 20-minute bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise. Exercise will consist of a 2-minute warm-up, followed by 15 minutes of walking at a rate, which will allow you to reach 2/3 of your max heart rate ((220-age)x0.6) followed by a 3-minute cool down on a treadmill (together equaling 20 minutes). HR will be monitored through heart rate monitors worn by the participants. The caffeine ingestion group will ingest 1.2 mg/kg of caffeine orally in powder form with water to drink, after ingestion of caffeine participants will wait 20 minutes to ensure peak plasma levels. The participants both the exercise group and the caffeine ingestion group will be asked to refrain from conversation. The post intervention assessment will begin within two minutes of the completion of either intervention. The second visit of phase I will take place the following day at the same time (if possible). During the second visit the participant's will complete the pre caffeine or pre exercise questionnaire, the CWSQ and vitals will be monitored pre and post intervention. The participants will participate in the intervention that they have not received on the first visit (for example, if the participant received caffeine ingestion on the first visit the participant will receive moderate intensity aerobic exercise on the second visit). Within two minutes of completion the post treatment N-back task assessment will begin.

Phases 2 and 3 will assess caffeine consumers (phase 3 in an acutely deprived state)

Phase 2 will utilize a within subjects counter-balanced design. Previous to arrival for phase 2 participants will be asked to keep consumption of caffeine to a regular dose (morning coffee) on the day of testing, abstain from alcohol and drugs for at least 18 hours prior to testing. Participants will be urged to arrive at the same time for each visit. Upon arrival to the Exercise and Health Psychology lab (located in room 408 of the Arthur and Sonia Labatt Health Science Building at Western University) participants will be given the letter of information, and asked to sign the informed consent form. Participants will also be asked to complete a demographic survey, PAR-Q readiness for exercise, Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, CCQ-R, and the CWSQ. Vitals (heart rate and blood pressure) will be assessed following the completion of the questionnaires as well as post intervention in the seated position. Prior to evaluation on the N-back task (cognitive memory task described below) a practice stage with be conducted until the participant can consistently score 75% or higher on three consecutive trials to eliminate a learning effect. After establishing familiarity, a baseline cognition score will be conducted through the n-back assessment. The subject will then be given a 5 minute break (i.e., to use the lavatory). Following the break the participants will be randomized into either the moderate intensity exercise or caffeine ingestion group. The interventions are as followed; Moderate Intensity Exercise will consist of a 20-minute bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise. Exercise will consist of a 2-minute warm-up, followed by 15 minutes of walking at a rate, which will allow you to reach 2/3 of your max heart rate (moderate intensity exercise= (220-age) x 0.6), and then a 3-minute cool down on a treadmill (together equaling 20 minutes). HR will be monitored through heart rate monitors worn by the participants. The caffeine ingestion group will ingest 1.2 mg/kg of caffeine in powder form with water to drink, after ingestion of caffeine participants will wait 20 minutes to ensure peak plasma levels.The participants in both the, exercise group and caffeine ingestion group will be asked to refrain from conversation. The post intervention assessment will begin within two minutes of the completion of either intervention. The second visit of phase I will take place the following day at the same time (if possible). During the second visit the participant's will complete the pre caffeine or pre exercise questionnaire, the CWSQ and vitals will be monitored pre and post intervention. The participants will participate in the intervention that they have not received on the first visit (for example, if the participant received caffeine ingestion on the first visit the participant will receive moderate intensity aerobic exercise on the second visit). Within two minutes of completion the post treatment N-back task assessment will begin.

Prior to arrival for phase 3, participants will be asked to refrain from caffeine for at least 12 hours, and abstain from alcohol and drugs for at least 18 hours prior to testing. Phase 3 will utilize the same participants as phase 2, but they will be examined in a caffeine-deprived state (12 hours) for baseline N-back scores the CWSQ will also be administered. Participants will then be randomized into either the caffeine ingestion group or exercise treatment group where post intervention N-back scores will be obtained. Participants will be asked to complete the same pre-intervention questionnaires as the previous phase. Vitals (heart rate and blood pressure) will be assessed pre and post intervention. Caffeine abstinence will be validated through self-report with the use of deception (participants being told that their saliva sample is being tested for the presence of caffeine).

N-back task explanation: Three tasks will be administered to subjects for each treatment condition (after caffeine administration and after exercise). The 1-back, 2-back, and 3-back cognitive tests will assess working memory by measuring both the percentage of correct responses, as well as reaction time. In these 5 minute tasks, a letter will appear on a computer screen for an interval of 500ms, followed by a 2000ms blank screen interstimulus (totaling 120 letters/5 minutes). Participants will be instructed to click the left button of a computer mouse as soon as a target appears, and to keep in mind both the speed and accuracy components of the task. In the 1-back condition, the target is defined as a letter flashing that is the same as the one preceding it. For example, "x, interstimulus, x" would be the target. In the 2-back condition, the target is defined as a letter appearing that is the same as what preceded it 2 letters before. For example, "a, interstimulus, b, interstimulus, a", would be the target. In the 3-back condition, the target is defined as a letter appearing that is the same as what preceded it 3 letters before. For example, "a, interstimulus, b, interstimulus, c, interstimulus, a", would be the target. All tasks call into action the participant's working memory abilities, as a measure of cognition.

Being tested
Caffeine, Moderate Intensity Exercise
Keywords
Caffeine, Caffeine Withdrawal, Acute Aerobic Exercise, Cognition, Working Memory

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • CaffeineDrug

    Oral administration of 1.2mg/kg of powdered caffeine with water.

  • Moderate Intensity ExerciseBehavioural

    Moderate intensity exercise conducted on a treadmill. Moderate intensity exercise defined as (220-age)*0.6.

Study groups in NCT03400423
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Non-caffeine exerciseExperimentalExercise cognition score
Receives: Behavioral: Moderate Intensity Exercise
Non-caffeine cognitionActive comparatorCaffeine cognition score
Receives: Drug: Caffeine
Caffeine consumption exerciseExperimentalExercise cognition score
Receives: Behavioral: Moderate Intensity Exercise
Caffeine consumption cognitionActive comparatorCaffeine cognition score
Receives: Drug: Caffeine
Deprived Caffeine consumers exerciseExperimentalExercise cognition score
Receives: Behavioral: Moderate Intensity Exercise
Deprived caffeine consumers cognitionActive comparatorCaffeine administration cognition score
Receives: Drug: Caffeine

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. 3-back on the N-back task

    Participants will be instructed to click the left button of a computer mouse as soon as a target appears, and to keep in mind both the speed and accuracy components of the task. In the 1-back condition, the target is defined as a letter flashing that is the same as the one preceding it. For example, "x, interstimulus, x" would be the target. In the 2-back condition, the target is defined as a letter appearing that is the same as what preceded it 2 letters before. For example, "a, interstimulus, b, interstimulus, a", would be the target. In the 3-back condition, the target is defined as a letter appearing that is the same as what preceded it 3 letters before. For example, "a, interstimulus, b, interstimulus, c, interstimulus, a", would be the target. All tasks call into action the participant's working memory abilities, as a measure of cognition.

    Measured: Approximately 5 minutes

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. 0,1, and 2 back on the N-back task

    Participants will be instructed to click the left button of a computer mouse as soon as a target appears, and to keep in mind both the speed and accuracy components of the task. In the 1-back condition, the target is defined as a letter flashing that is the same as the one preceding it. For example, "x, interstimulus, x" would be the target. In the 2-back condition, the target is defined as a letter appearing that is the same as what preceded it 2 letters before. For example, "a, interstimulus, b, interstimulus, a", would be the target. In the 3-back condition, the target is defined as a letter appearing that is the same as what preceded it 3 letters before. For example, "a, interstimulus, b, interstimulus, c, interstimulus, a", would be the target. All tasks call into action the participant's working memory abilities, as a measure of cognition.

    Measured: Approximately 15 minutes

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted17 Jan 2018
  2. Study start1 Feb 2018
  3. Primary completion1 Jun 2019
  4. Study completion1 Aug 2019

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
64 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03400423
Sponsor's protocol ID
Acute Exercise and Caffeine
Acronym
AEC
Status last verified
Jan 2018
First submitted
9 Jan 2018
Last updated
4 Mar 2024
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: We do not plan to share IPD.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Caffeine and Moderate Intensity Exercise in people with Adult Population, run by Western University, Canada at 1 site in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 16 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Mar 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

3-back on the N-back task (time frame: Approximately 5 minutes). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Mar 2024.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in