Does Caffeine Before Running Burn More Calories?

A nervous system stimulant, ingested caffeine stimulates adrenaline and dopamine release, reports the University of Michigan University Health Service. Within 15 minutes of caffeine consumption, you may experience an increase in your heart rate and blood flow to your extremities and skin. You may also experience elevated body temperature and blood sugar as well as higher blood pressure. But these physiological changes have little effect on metabolism -- calories burned -- while running, report researchers Mark A. Tarnopolsky et al. in their article in "Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise."

  1. Caffeine as a Drug

    • Caffeine has a reputation as a performance-enhancing, ergogenic, agent. In an article published by "The Physician and Sportsmedicine," John A. Hawley reports that the Medical Commission of the International Olympic Committee banned caffeine in 1962. Currently reclassified, caffeine is considered a restricted drug with an illegal dose defined as more than 12 milligrams per liter of urine. This report states that caffeine acts on the central nervous system to increase alertness, decrease reaction time and reduce perceived effort. The report further indicates that caffeine has a glycogen-sparing effect and a positive effect on fat metabolism.

    Ergogenics

    • Research on caffeine consumption before exercise focuses primarily on the ergogenic, performance-enhancing effects of caffeine. Tarnopolosky et al. studied the effects of caffeine consumption on endurance runners with low to moderate habitual caffeine use. These researchers concluded that caffeine has no significant effect on metabolism. But they did concede that findings could be skewed due to the habitual use of caffeine and that noncaffeine users might have a different outcome. T.A. Astorino et al. researched the ergogenic effect of caffeine on strength-training athletes, reported in the "Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness." They concluded that caffeine ingestion significantly increases post-exercise oxygen consumption, and energy expenditure increased 15 percent, but increased caloric burn was minimal.

    Metabolism

    • Ingestion of caffeine affects fat metabolism and has a glycogen-sparing effect, according to T. E. Graham et al. as reported in the "Journal of Physiology." However, ingestion of caffeine before exercise has minimal effects on metabolism in working muscle. The bottom line is that caffeine consumption before running can enhance performance in certain individuals, but the increase in calorie burn, if any, is minimal.

    Cautions

    • Individuals vary in their reactions to ingestion of caffeine. Possible side effects include nervousness or anxiety, insomnia, gastrointestinal problems, heartburn, nausea, increased blood pressure and other neurological or medical conditions. Consult your medical doctor if you experience these or other symptoms following caffeine consumption. Avoid high doses of caffeine during pregnancy, as fetal heart rate and breathing can be affected.