AzTrials
AzTrials

CaffeineNCT01477294

Effects of Caffeine in Hydration and Energy Metabolism

A study testing Caffeine in people with Caffeine, run by Technical University of Lisbon at 1 site in Portugal.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

The main purposes of this randomized cross-over trial are to characterize and compare the effects of a moderate dose of caffeine intake in healthy physically active males on hydration and energy metabolism specifically: 1. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 39 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Caffeine
What is being tested?
Caffeine
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
30 participants
Where
1 sitePortugal
Study dates
Jan 2010to Mar 2010
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 39 years
  • Men only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • male
  • aged 18-39 years old
  • body mass index between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m2
  • Subjects had to be free of any major disease with a general healthy status warranted

Who cannot join

  • Smokers
  • taking medication or dietary supplements that may interfere with hydration status
  • body composition or energy expenditure regulation
  • Caffeine consumption > 100 mg/day

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Portugal1 site
  • Faculty of Human Kinetics

    Lisbon, 1495-688

Other trials in Portugal

About this study

Official title: Effects of Caffeine Ingestion in Total-body Water, Extra and Intracellular Water Distribution, and Energy Metabolism

The main purposes of this randomized cross-over trial are to characterize and compare the effects of a moderate dose of caffeine intake in healthy physically active males on hydration and energy metabolism specifically:

  1. Total body water and its compartments (intracellular and extracellular) assessed by by dilution techniques, and hydration state by urine specific gravity;
  2. Total energy expenditure by double labeled water, resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry, and physical activity energy expenditure;
  3. Energy expenditure in physical activity of daily living, in particular duration and intensity of activity.
  4. If the changes occurred between placebo and caffeine ingestion on the main outcomes were dependent on specific covariates, namely body composition and dietary intake.
Read the detailed description

Although the effect of caffeine on hydration status, usually assessed by a urine specific gravity test (USG) has been extensively studied no research has been conducted to analyze its effects on total body water and its compartments using reference methods. In addition some uncertainty still remains about the influence of caffeine ingestion on hydration due to methodological limitations, specifically the use of less valid techniques for total-body water assessment, small sample size, and the lack of control for potential confounding factors. The information above specifically the methodological gaps mentioned and an inadequate experimental design lead us to further understand the effect of a moderate dose of caffeine in total body water (TBW) and its intra (ICW) and extracellular (ECW) compartments in non-caffeine consumers during a short-term period (4 days). Additionally, though caffeine effects on energy expenditure has been studied, its influence on physical activity (PA) during free-living conditions using gold standard and objective measures of PA is limited. Therefore, we also investigated the impact of a moderate dose of caffeine on resting energy expenditure (REE), PA energy expenditure (PAEE), total energy expenditure (TEE), and daily time spent in sedentary (DTSS), light (DTSL), moderate (DTSM), and vigorous (DTSV) intensity activities in non-obese physically active males. To overcome the methodological gaps in previous studies we assessed dietary intake and objective measures of physical activity throughout the experimental trial to assure that the same diet and physical activity patterns were maintained. Also it was analyzed if the effect of caffeine was independent of body composition, assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

To perform this research study, a total of 30 non-smoker males, low caffeine users (<100 mg/day), aged 20-39 yrs [body mass (BM): 72.7 ± 8.8 kg; Height: 1.77 ± 0.07 m] were followed in a double-blind crossover experimental design with two conditions in a random sequence: caffeine (5 mg per kg of BM/day) and malt-dextrine as placebo, both through capsules. Conditions lasted for 4 days with a 3-day washout period.

Evaluations were performed at baseline (visit-1), end of condition 1 (visit-2), and end of condition 2 (visit-3). Fat and fat-free masses (FFM) were assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. TBW and ECW were determined by dilution techniques (deuterium and bromide, specifically) while ICW was calculated as the difference between TBW and ECW (Schoeller et al., 1980. Total body water measurement in humans with 18O and 2H labeled water. Am J Clin Nutr 33:2686-2693). TEE was assessed using doubly labeled water technique by administrating two stable isotopes 2H (deuterium) and 18O (oxygen 18) with a respective dose of 0.1 g / kg and 1.8 g / kg of body water (Schoeller DA, van Santen E, 1982. Measurement of energy expenditure in humans by doubly labeled water method. J Appl Physiol 53:955-959). REE was assessed by indirect calorimetry and PAEE calculated as [TEE-(REE+0.1TEE)]. An accelerometer (ActiGraph, GT1M model, Fort Walton Beach, Florida) was used to estimate DTSS, DTSL, DTSM, and DTSV. The cutoff values used to define the intensity of physical activity and therefore to quantify the mean time in each intensity (sedentary, light, moderate or vigorous) for persons aged 18 years or older were: sedentary: < 100 counts/min; light: 100-2019 counts/min; moderate: 2,020-5,998 counts/min (corresponding to 3-5.9 METs); vigorous: ≥ 5999 counts/min (corresponding to ≥ 6 METs) (Troiano et al. Physical activity in the United States measured by accelerometer. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40:181-8).

Conditions
Caffeine
Being tested
Caffeine, Placebo
Keywords
Total, Intra and Extracellular Water, Energy Expenditure, Physical Activity, Body Composition, Dilution Techniques
Medical subject headings
Motor Activity

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • CaffeineDrug

    5 mg/ kg of body weight (capsules), twice a day (morning and afternoon), during 4 days.

  • PlaceboDrug

    Malt dextrin (5 mg/kg body mass) twice a day during 4 days

Study groups in NCT01477294
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
CaffeineExperimentalIntervention with Caffeine in a random order
Receives: Drug: Caffeine
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorPlacebo (malt dextrin) administered in a random order
Receives: Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Changes in Total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW), intracellular water (ICW), and hydration status from baseline to each experimental condition (Placebo or Caffeine)

    TBW was assessed by deuterium dilution using a stable Hydra gas isotope ratio mass spectrometer (PDZ, Europa Scientific, Crewe, United Kingdom).ECW was assessed by the sodium bromide dilution method. ICW was calculated as the difference between TBW and ECW. Hydration status was determined based on urine specific gravity (USG) measured by a refractrometer (Urisys 1100 Urine Analyzer, Roche, Portugal)

    Measured: day 0, day 4, and day 11

  2. Changes in total energy expenditure (TEE), resting energy expenditure (REE), and physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) between each experimental conditions (placebo or caffeine)

    TEE was assessed by the double labeled water technique, REE by indirect calorimetry, and PAEE calculated as PAEE= TEE - (0.1xTEE + REE), assuming that 10% of TEE is due to the thermogenic effect of food

    Measured: Day 4 and day 11

  3. Changes in daily time spent in sedentary activities (DTSS), light activities (DTSL), moderate activities (DTSM), and vigorous activities (DTSV) between each experimental conditions (placebo or caffeine)

    DTSS, DTSL, DTSM, and DTCV were assessed by accelerometry using cut-off values based on specific counts/min interval

    Measured: day 4 and day 11

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Changes in body composition from baseline to each condition (Placebo or Caffeine)

    Body composition was assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA)

    Measured: day 0, day 4, and day 11

  2. Changes in dietary intake (energy and macro nutrient) between each condition (placebo and caffeine)

    Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-h dietary records.

    Measured: Day 4 and day 11

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted22 Nov 2011 (estimated)
  2. Study startJan 2010
  3. Primary completionMar 2010
  4. Study completionMar 2010

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
30 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01477294
Sponsor's protocol ID
IHS-2010
Status last verified
Nov 2011
First submitted
11 Nov 2011
Last updated
22 Nov 2011
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Silva AM, Armada-da-Silva P, Sardinha LB, Júdice PB, Magalhães JP, Matias CN & Santos DA. Efeitos da ingestão de cafeína na água corporal total, distribuição de fluidos intra e extracelulares e no dispêndio energético. A Report for the Institution of Hydration and Health, In press.

  • Júdice PB (2011). Determinant Factors on hydration status assessed by Urine Specific Gravity: accuracy of technical procedures and effect of caffeine ingestion. Master's Degree Thesis. Faculty of Human Kinetics-Technical University of Lisbon, Cruz-Quebrada.

  • Magalhães JP, Santos DA, Silva AM, Matias CN, Júdice PB, Quintas IC, Sardinha LB (2011). Total energy expenditure: combined heart rate and motion sensor vs uni-axial accelerometry models Book of abstracts of the International conference on Recent Advances and Controversies in Measuring Energy Metabolism, pp 106.

  • Quintas IC, Santos DA, Matias CN, Silva AM, Gobbo, LA, Gonçalves EM, Magalhães JP, Júdice PB, Sardinha LB (2011). Does caffeine intake affect resting energy expenditure? Book of abstracts of the International conference on Recent Advances and Controversies in Measuring Energy Metabolism, pp 104.

  • Júdice PB, Silva AM, Magalhães JP, Matias CN, Santos DA, Armada-da-Silva P, & Sardinha LB. Does caffeine intake increases energy expenditure and habitual physical activity? A double-blind randomized crossover trial. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. In Review.

  • Francisco R, Rosa GB, Judice PB, Magalhaes JP, Cruz AD, Sardinha LB, Lukaski HC, Silva AM. Four days of a moderate dose of caffeine does not alter raw bioelectrical impedance analysis parameters in healthy males. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2025 Oct;69:599-607. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2025.08.005. Epub 2025 Aug 6.

    PubMed 40774622
  • Silva AM, Santos DA, Matias CN, Judice PB, Magalhaes JP, Ekelund U, Sardinha LB. Accuracy of a combined heart rate and motion sensor for assessing energy expenditure in free-living adults during a double-blind crossover caffeine trial using doubly labeled water as the reference method. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2015 Jan;69(1):20-7. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2014.51. Epub 2014 Apr 2.

    PubMed 24690589
  • Judice PB, Matias CN, Santos DA, Magalhaes JP, Hamilton MT, Sardinha LB, Silva AM. Caffeine intake, short bouts of physical activity, and energy expenditure: a double-blind randomized crossover trial. PLoS One. 2013 Jul 15;8(7):e68936. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068936. Print 2013.

    PubMed 23869233
  • Silva AM, Judice PB, Matias CN, Santos DA, Magalhaes JP, St-Onge MP, Goncalves EM, Armada-da-Silva P, Sardinha LB. Total body water and its compartments are not affected by ingesting a moderate dose of caffeine in healthy young adult males. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2013 Jun;38(6):626-32. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2012-0253. Epub 2013 Jan 15.

    PubMed 23724879
  • Judice PB, Magalhaes JP, Santos DA, Matias CN, Carita AI, Armada-Da-Silva PA, Sardinha LB, Silva AM. A moderate dose of caffeine ingestion does not change energy expenditure but decreases sleep time in physically active males: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2013 Jan;38(1):49-56. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2012-0145. Epub 2013 Jan 18.

    PubMed 23368828

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Caffeine in people with Caffeine, run by Technical University of Lisbon at 1 site in Portugal.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Nov 2011. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Portugal. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Changes in Total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW), intracellular water (ICW), and hydration status from baseline to each experimental condition (Placebo or Caffeine) (time frame: day 0, day 4, and day 11). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01477294, which also lists 10 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Nov 2011.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in