Research finds caffeine boosts agility in female athletes, but cycle timing remains unproven
A new meta-analysis of 118 female athletes confirms that caffeine improves vertical jump and agility, yet researchers caution against phase-specific dosing due to reliance on self-reported data.
A systematic review and meta-analysis published by Yahoo Sports reveals that caffeine supplementation significantly enhances agility and vertical jump height in female athletes competing in intermittent sports. The study, which examined data from nine trials involving 118 participants, indicates that doses of 3 to 6 milligrams per kilogram of body mass, ingested approximately 60 minutes before exercise, yield small-to-moderate performance benefits.
The research addresses a longstanding imbalance in sports science, where the vast majority of ergogenic aid studies have focused on male athletes. By isolating women in sports such as basketball, volleyball, and handball, the review sought to determine if physiological responses to caffeine differ due to fluctuations in sex hormones. The findings confirm that caffeine is a legitimate performance aid for these activities, particularly where quick directional changes and explosive power are critical.
While agility and jump height improved significantly, the analysis found no statistically significant effect on sprint performance. Researchers suggest this may be due to the anaerobic, fast-twitch nature of sprinting, which may not respond to caffeine’s mechanisms in the same way as intermittent tasks. Alternatively, the lack of impact could stem from limited statistical power resulting from the small sample sizes inherent in the included studies.
The review also explored whether menstrual cycle phases influence these outcomes, noting that oestrogen peaks during the follicular phase and progesterone during the luteal phase. Subgroup analyses suggested agility improvements were more pronounced during the follicular phase, aligning with broader research on women’s muscle responsiveness. However, the between-group comparison showed no statistically significant difference between phases, preventing definitive conclusions.
A critical methodological limitation undermines the ability to make phase-specific recommendations: none of the nine studies verified menstrual cycle status through hormonal testing. All relied on calendar tracking or self-reported applications, creating a significant gap in data reliability. Consequently, the researchers do not support specific timing of caffeine intake to menstrual phases, urging further rigorous study to close the evidence gap for female athletes.
