Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30594211›Full record

SynthesisJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition2018

Acute caffeine supplementation in combat sports: a systematic review.

Luis M López-González, Antonio J Sánchez-Oliver, Fernando Mata, Pablo Jodra, Jose Antonio, Raúl Domínguez

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 46 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
46citing papers in PubMed, 10 pooled it
6.6field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

46 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 79 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Sport supplementation in competitive swimmers: a systematic review with meta-analysis.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2025
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  11. Acute effects of 3 and 6 mg·KgJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2026
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  19. Effects of acute ingestion of caffeinated chewing gum on performance in elite judo athletes.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2021
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Luis M López-GonzálezNutriscience, Córdoba, Spain.
Antonio J Sánchez-OliverArea of Human Motricity and Sports Performance. Faculty of Education Sciences, Seville University, c/Pirotecnia s/n, Seville, Spain. asanchez38@us.es.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9022-6043
Fernando MataNutriscience, Córdoba, Spain.
Pablo JodraDepartment of Education Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain.
Jose AntonioDepartment of Health and Human Performance, Nova Southeastern University, Miami, Florida, USA.
Raúl DomínguezFaculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Isabel I, Burgos, Spain.
IE University · ESSoutheastern University · USUniversidad de Alcalá · ESUniversidad Isabel I · ES

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Caffeine used as a supplement has been shown to improve physical and cognitive performance in several sport modalities due to its effects on the central nervous system. This review assesses the direct effects of caffeine supplementation on performance in combat sports. Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guidelines, relevant studies were identified through the Medline, Scopus and SPORTDiscus databases. Of 1053 search results, only 9 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of these, three studies detected no ergogenic effect of caffeine supplementation, while six studies did observe a significant positive effect. Supplementation with 3-6 mg/kg of caffeine was found to increase the glycolytic contribution to energy metabolism during the execution of real or simulated combats, as indicated by elevated blood lactate concentrations. Caffeine intake was also noted to improve levels of strength, power and upper arm muscular endurance. These effects were not paralleled by an increase in the exertion perceived by the athlete.

Indexed as

Athletic PerformanceBoxingMartial ArtsArmAthletesCaffeineEnergy MetabolismHumansLactic AcidMuscle, SkeletalMuscle StrengthPerformance-Enhancing SubstancesCaffeineLactic AcidPerformance-Enhancing SubstancesAthleteErgogenic aidSport performanceSport supplements

Identifiers

PMID30594211
PMCPMC6310931
OpenAlexW2907538400

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.