Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Aim: In accordance with conflicting results about the effect of dietary supplements on exercise-induced inflammatory responses, this study was conducted to identify the effect of 14-day caffeine supplementation on the response of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and peripheral blood leucocytes by following one bout downhill running in male non-athletes.
Material and Methods: Eighteen male volunteer non-athletes (aged 25±3 years, body fat 13±2 and VO2max 50±4 ml/kg/min) in a semi-experimental, randomized and double-blind process were allocated equally into supplement and placebo groups.
Each subject received caffeine or dextrose (5 mg/kg body weight/day) for 14 consecutive days.
After the supplementation (14 days), all subjects were participated in one bout downhill running on a treadmill (-15% incline) for 30 minutes with 65% VO2max.
Changes in serum CRP and peripheral blood leukocytes were counted and determined in four phases (the base line, after the supplement period, immediately and 24 hours after the exercise).The normal data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA, Bonferroni and independent t test at α≤0.05.
Results: The results show that the caffeine supplementation has no significant effect (P>0.05) on the basal inflammatory indices. The serum CRP and peripheral blood leukocytes were counted and significantly increased after following the exercise protocol and higher than the baseline levels until 24 hours later (p < 0.05). However, the change of serum CRP and peripheral blood leukocyte counts in placebo group was significantly higher than in caffeine group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the findings we can conclude that 14-day caffeine supplementation can probably decrease exercise-induced inflammatory response (CRP elevation and Leukocytosis) following 30 min downhill running in male non-athletes.