Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42255518›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in physiology2026

Does acute caffeine ingestion improve high-intensity interval exercise performance? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yixiang Peng, Lei He, Wenxin Du, Baiyu Liu, Xinkai Wang, Yun Gong

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in physiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
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.

Yixiang Peng *Faculty of Health Sciences and Sports, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao SAR, China.
Lei He *Faculty of Health Sciences and Sports, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao SAR, China.
Wenxin DuDepartment of Physical Education, College of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Baiyu LiuSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Xinkai WangFaculty of Health Sciences and Sports, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao SAR, China.
Yun GongSchool of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of caffeine (CAF) on high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) performance and examined potential moderators. Methods: Several databases were searched for studies of CAF on HIIE performance. Pooled effects were calculated using Hedge's Results: Twenty studies were included (n = 320; 57 females). CAF significantly improved HIIE performance ( Conclusion: CAF ingestion significantly enhances HIIE performance, with ergogenic benefits observed across both sexes and trained athletes. Effective ergogenic benefits can be achieved with a low dose (~3 mg/kg), administered as a capsule or beverage. Notably, meta-regression indicates that the rest/work ratio is a critical moderator of HIIE performance, with evidence of a nonlinear association.

Indexed as

caffeineergogenic aidsexercise performancehigh−intensity interval exerciseintermittent sports

Identifiers

PMID42255518
PMCPMC13233386

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.