Impact of Caffeine on Performance Elite Female Athletes
Keywords:
caffeine, elite female athletes, sports performance
Abstract
Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed ergogenic substances worldwide, with an average daily intake among adults ranging from approximately 100–200 mg/day. In sports contexts, caffeine is commonly used at doses of around 3–6 mg/kg body weight to enhance athletic performance. However, most research on the ergogenic effects of caffeine has primarily focused on male or mixed populations, despite evidence that physiological and hormonal differences may influence female athletes’ responses to caffeine supplementation. This study aimed to systematically review current scientific evidence regarding the effects of caffeine supplementation on the physical and psychophysiological performance of elite female athletes. This study employed a systematic review design in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Literature searches were conducted in the PubMed and Scopus databases for publications from 2016 to 2025. Inclusion criteria were determined using the PICOS framework, focusing on controlled experimental studies involving elite female athletes. Of the 2,254 articles identified, nine studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed qualitatively. Most studies used randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover designs and reported that caffeine supplementation at doses of 2.3–6 mg/kg body weight improved strength, speed, cognitive response, and exercise enjoyment. However, the results were not always consistent, particularly among athletes with high habitual caffeine intake or when lower doses were administered. In conclusion, caffeine may enhance the performance of elite female athletes. Nevertheless, the existing literature presents several limitations, including the limited number of studies, small sample sizes, and variability in study design, caffeine dosage, and control of hormonal factors such as the menstrual cycle. Therefore, caffeine use in female athletes requires a more individualized and gender-specific supplementation approach.
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References
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Filip-Stachnik, A. (2022). Acute effects of caffeinated chewing gum on basketball performance in elite female players. Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, 32(100), 22–30. https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0016.1233
Grgic, J., Trexler, E. T., Lazinica, B., & Pedisic, Z. (2018). Effects of caffeine intake on muscle strength and power: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 15(1), 104–125. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-018-0216-0
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Liu, H., Liu, C., Shiu, Y., Lan, P., Wang, A., & Chiu, C. (2024). Caffeinated Chewing Gum Improves Basketball Shooting Accuracy and Physical Performance Indicators of Trained Basketball Players : A Double-Blind Crossover Trial. Nutrients, 16(9), 1–12. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16091256
McLellan, T. M., Caldwell, J. A., & Lieberman, H. R. (2016). A review of caffeine’s effects on cognitive, physical and occupational performance. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 71, 294–312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.09.001
Mor, H., Mor, A., Abdioğlu, M., Tohănean, D. I., Savu, C. V., Acar, G. C., Moraru, C. E., & Alexe, D. I. (2025). The Acute Effects of Caffeine Supplementation on Anaerobic Performance and Functional Strength in Female Soccer Players. In Nutrients (Vol. 17, Issue 13). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17132156
Muñoz, A., López-Samanes, Á., Pérez-López, A., Aguilar-Navarro, M., Moreno-Heredero, B., Rivilla-García, J., González-Frutos, P., Pino-Ortega, J., Morencos, E., & Del Coso, J. (2020). Effects of caffeine ingestion on physical performance in elite women handball players: A randomized, controlled study. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 15(10), 1406–1413. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2019-0847
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. The BMJ, 372. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Pickering, C., & Kiely, J. (2018). Are the Current Guidelines on Caffeine Use in Sport Optimal for Everyone? Inter-individual Variation in Caffeine Ergogenicity, and a Move Towards Personalised Sports Nutrition. Sports Medicine, 48(1), 7–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0776-1
Pickering, C., & Kiely, J. (2019). What Should We Do About Habitual Caffeine Use in Athletes ? Sports Medicine, 49(6), 833–842. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0980-7
Portillo, J., Del Coso, J., & Abián-Vicén, J. (2017). Effects of Caffeine Ingestion on Skill Performance During an International Female Rugby Sevens Competition. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(12), 3351–3357. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001763
Salinero, J. J., Lara, B., Ruiz-Vicente, D., Areces, F., Puente-Torres, C., Gallo-Salazar, C., Pascual, T., & Del Coso, J. (2017). CYP1A2 genotype variations do not modify the benefits and drawbacks of caffeine during exercise: A pilot study. Nutrients, 9(3), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9030269
Silva, H., Del, J., & Craig, C. (2025). Caffeine and Sports Performance : The Conflict between Caffeine Intake to Enhance Performance and Avoiding Caffeine to Ensure Sleep Quality. Sports Medicine, 55(7), 1579–1592. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-025-02245-y
Skinner, T. L., Desbrow, B. E. N., Arapova, J., Schaumberg, M. I. A. A., Osborne, J., Grant, G. D., Anoopkumar-dukie, S., & Leveritt, M. D. (2019). Women Experience the Same Ergogenic Response to Caffeine as Men. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 51(6), 1195–1202. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000001885
Southward, K., Rutherfurd-Markwick, K. J., & Ali, A. (2018). The Effect of Acute Caffeine Ingestion on Endurance Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta–Analysis. Sports Medicine, 48(8), 1913–1928. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0939-8
Stojanović, E., Stojiljković, N., Scanlan, A. T., Dalbo, V. J., Stanković, R., Antić, V., & Milanović, Z. (2019). Acute caffeine supplementation promotes small to moderate improvements in performance tests indicative of in-game success in professional female basketball players. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 44(8), 849–856. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2018-0671
Temple, J. L., Bernard, C., Lipshultz, S. E., Czachor, J. D., Westphal, J. A., & Mestre, M. A. (2017). The Safety of Ingested Caffeine: A Comprehensive Review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 8(May), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00080
Terry, P. C., Karageorghis, C. I., Curran, M. L., Martin, O. V., & Parsons-Smith, R. L. (2020). Effects of music in exercise and sport: A meta-analytic review. American Psychological Association, 146(2), 91–117. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000216
Thomas, D. T., Erdman, K. A., & Burke, L. M. (2016). Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: Nutrition and Athletic Performance. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 116(3), 501–528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2015.12.006
Wang, Y., Su, W., Zhang, S., Zhao, L., Lv, Y., Gu, B., & Yu, L. (2025). Effects of Acute Caffeine Ingestion on Repeated Sprint Ability : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients, 17(21), 1–17. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213475
Banks, N. F., Tomko, P. M., Colquhoun, R. J., Muddle, T. W. D., & Emerson, S. R. (2019). Genetic Polymorphisms in ADORA2A and CYP1A2 Influence Caffeine ’ s Effect on Postprandial Glycaemia. Scientific Reports, 9(February), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-46931-0
Carmichael, M. A., Thomson, R. L., Moran, L. J., & Wycherley, T. P. (2021). The Impact of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Athletes ’ Performance : A Narrative Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18(4), 1–22. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041667
Chia, J. S., Barrett, L. A., Chow, J. Y., & Burns, S. F. (2017). Effects of Caffeine Supplementation on Performance in Ball Games. Sports Medicine, 47(12), 2453–2471. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0763-6
Dall’Acqua, F., Cristina-Souza, G., Santos-Mariano, A. C., Bertuzzi, R., Rodacki, C., & Lima-Silva, A. E. (2021). Caffeine ingestion improves specific artistic swimming tasks. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 54(4), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-431x202010346
Delleli, S., Ouergui, I., Messaoudi, H., Bridge, C., Ardigò, L. P., & Chtourou, H. (2024). Warm-up music and low-dose caffeine enhance the activity profile and psychophysiological responses during simulated combat in female taekwondo athletes. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-64880-1
Filip-Stachnik, A. (2022). Acute effects of caffeinated chewing gum on basketball performance in elite female players. Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, 32(100), 22–30. https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0016.1233
Grgic, J., Trexler, E. T., Lazinica, B., & Pedisic, Z. (2018). Effects of caffeine intake on muscle strength and power: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 15(1), 104–125. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-018-0216-0
Guest, N. S., VanDusseldorp, T. A., Nelson, M. T., Grgic, J., Schoenfeld, B. J., Jenkins, N. D. M., Arent, S. M., Antonio, J., Stout, J. R., Trexler, E. T., Smith-Ryan, A. E., Goldstein, E. R., Kalman, D. S., & Campbell, B. I. (2021). International society of sports nutrition position stand: caffeine and exercise performance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 18(1), 1–37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-020-00383-4
Ju, J., Low, L., Jen, B., Tan, W., Yi, L. X., Zhou, Z. D., & Tan, E. K. (2024). Genetic susceptibility to caffeine intake and metabolism : a systematic review. Journal of Translational Medicine, 22(961), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-024-05737-z
Karayigit, R., Forbes, S. C., Osmanov, Z., Yilmaz, C., Yasli, B. C., Naderi, A., Buyukcelebi, H., Benesova, D., Gabrys, T., & Esen, O. (2022). Low and Moderate Doses of Caffeinated Coffee Improve Repeated Sprint Performance in Female Team Sport Athletes. Biology, 11(10), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11101498
Karayigit, R., Naderi, A., Akca, F., Cruz, C. J. G. da, Sarshin, A., Yasli, B. C., Ersoz, G., & Kaviani, M. (2020). Effects of Different Doses of Caffeinated Coffee on Muscular Endurance, Cognitive Performance, and Cardiac Autonomic Modulation in Caffeine Naive Female Athletes. Nutrients, 13(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13010002
Kreutzer, A., Graybeal, A. J., Moss, K., Braun-Trocchio, R., & Shah, M. (2022). Caffeine Supplementation Strategies Among Endurance Athletes. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4(April), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.821750
Kumstát, M., Rybářová, S., Thomas, A., & Novotný, J. (2016). Case Study: Competition Nutrition Intakes During the Open Water Swimming Grand Prix Races in Elite Female Swimmer. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 26(4), 370–376. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2015-0168
Liu, H., Liu, C., Shiu, Y., Lan, P., Wang, A., & Chiu, C. (2024). Caffeinated Chewing Gum Improves Basketball Shooting Accuracy and Physical Performance Indicators of Trained Basketball Players : A Double-Blind Crossover Trial. Nutrients, 16(9), 1–12. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16091256
McLellan, T. M., Caldwell, J. A., & Lieberman, H. R. (2016). A review of caffeine’s effects on cognitive, physical and occupational performance. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 71, 294–312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.09.001
Mor, H., Mor, A., Abdioğlu, M., Tohănean, D. I., Savu, C. V., Acar, G. C., Moraru, C. E., & Alexe, D. I. (2025). The Acute Effects of Caffeine Supplementation on Anaerobic Performance and Functional Strength in Female Soccer Players. In Nutrients (Vol. 17, Issue 13). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17132156
Muñoz, A., López-Samanes, Á., Pérez-López, A., Aguilar-Navarro, M., Moreno-Heredero, B., Rivilla-García, J., González-Frutos, P., Pino-Ortega, J., Morencos, E., & Del Coso, J. (2020). Effects of caffeine ingestion on physical performance in elite women handball players: A randomized, controlled study. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 15(10), 1406–1413. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2019-0847
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. The BMJ, 372. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Pickering, C., & Kiely, J. (2018). Are the Current Guidelines on Caffeine Use in Sport Optimal for Everyone? Inter-individual Variation in Caffeine Ergogenicity, and a Move Towards Personalised Sports Nutrition. Sports Medicine, 48(1), 7–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0776-1
Pickering, C., & Kiely, J. (2019). What Should We Do About Habitual Caffeine Use in Athletes ? Sports Medicine, 49(6), 833–842. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0980-7
Portillo, J., Del Coso, J., & Abián-Vicén, J. (2017). Effects of Caffeine Ingestion on Skill Performance During an International Female Rugby Sevens Competition. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(12), 3351–3357. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001763
Salinero, J. J., Lara, B., Ruiz-Vicente, D., Areces, F., Puente-Torres, C., Gallo-Salazar, C., Pascual, T., & Del Coso, J. (2017). CYP1A2 genotype variations do not modify the benefits and drawbacks of caffeine during exercise: A pilot study. Nutrients, 9(3), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9030269
Silva, H., Del, J., & Craig, C. (2025). Caffeine and Sports Performance : The Conflict between Caffeine Intake to Enhance Performance and Avoiding Caffeine to Ensure Sleep Quality. Sports Medicine, 55(7), 1579–1592. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-025-02245-y
Skinner, T. L., Desbrow, B. E. N., Arapova, J., Schaumberg, M. I. A. A., Osborne, J., Grant, G. D., Anoopkumar-dukie, S., & Leveritt, M. D. (2019). Women Experience the Same Ergogenic Response to Caffeine as Men. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 51(6), 1195–1202. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000001885
Southward, K., Rutherfurd-Markwick, K. J., & Ali, A. (2018). The Effect of Acute Caffeine Ingestion on Endurance Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta–Analysis. Sports Medicine, 48(8), 1913–1928. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0939-8
Stojanović, E., Stojiljković, N., Scanlan, A. T., Dalbo, V. J., Stanković, R., Antić, V., & Milanović, Z. (2019). Acute caffeine supplementation promotes small to moderate improvements in performance tests indicative of in-game success in professional female basketball players. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 44(8), 849–856. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2018-0671
Temple, J. L., Bernard, C., Lipshultz, S. E., Czachor, J. D., Westphal, J. A., & Mestre, M. A. (2017). The Safety of Ingested Caffeine: A Comprehensive Review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 8(May), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00080
Terry, P. C., Karageorghis, C. I., Curran, M. L., Martin, O. V., & Parsons-Smith, R. L. (2020). Effects of music in exercise and sport: A meta-analytic review. American Psychological Association, 146(2), 91–117. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000216
Thomas, D. T., Erdman, K. A., & Burke, L. M. (2016). Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: Nutrition and Athletic Performance. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 116(3), 501–528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2015.12.006
Wang, Y., Su, W., Zhang, S., Zhao, L., Lv, Y., Gu, B., & Yu, L. (2025). Effects of Acute Caffeine Ingestion on Repeated Sprint Ability : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients, 17(21), 1–17. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213475
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2026-03-20
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