Caffeine does not augment markers of muscle damage or leukocytosis following resistance exercise.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of caffeine ingestion before a resistance exercise session on markers of muscle damage (CK, LDH, ALT, AST) and leukocyte levels.

METHODS: Fifteen soccer athletes completed two resistance exercise sessions that differed only in the ingestion of caffeine or a placebo preworkout.

RESULTS: CK concentration increased significantly following the caffeine session (415.8+/-62.8 to 542.0+/-73.5) and the placebo session (411.5+/-43.3 to 545.8+/-59.9), with no significant differences between sessions. Similarly, LDH concentration increased significantly following the caffeine session (377.5+/-18.0 to 580.5+/-36.1) and the placebo session (384.8+/-13.9 to 570.4+/-36.1), with no significant differences between sessions. Both sessions resulted in significant increases in the total leukocyte count (caffeine=6.24+/-2.08 to 8.84+/-3.41; placebo=6.36+/-2.34 to 8.77+/-3.20), neutrophils (caffeine=3.37+/-0.13 to 5.15+/-0.28; placebo=3.46+/-0.17 to 5.12+/-0.24), lymphocytes (caffeine=2.19+/-0.091 to 2.78+/-0.10; placebo=2.17+/-0.100 to 2.75+/-0.11), and monocytes (caffeine=0.53+/-0.02 to 0.72+/-0.06; placebo=0.56+/-0.03 to 0.69+/-0.04), with no significant differences between sessions.

CONCLUSION: Ingestion of caffeine at 4.5 mg/kg(-1) did not augment markers of muscle damage or leukocyte levels above that which occurs through resistance exercise alone.