Caffeinated Chewing Gum on Special Forces Performance

NCT ID: NCT06638372

Last Updated: 2025-06-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 16 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-10-05
• Study Completion Date: 2025-05-30

Brief Summary

The purpose of this project is to investigate the effects of caffeine chewing gum on the cognitive functions and special operations capabilities of special forces.

Detailed Description

Using a randomisation crossover design, 20-40 active-duty special forces members who had undergone leave and special forces reserve training were divided into a caffeine trial (CAF) and a placebo trail (PL). After chewing caffeine-containing gum containing 5 mg/kg (CAF group) or caffeine-free gum (PL group) for 15 minutes, then performed a simple reaction test, a stroop test, a visual search test, a grip strength test, a vertical jump test, a 20-metre sprint test, and a counter-terrorism simulation test. A heart rate monitor was used to measure the heart rate and heart rate variability of the participants. Saliva samples were collected and analysed for α-Amylase, cortisol and caffeine concentrations before the test, after a 15-minute break from chewing gum and at the end of the test. Completion time of cognitive functions, grip strength, vertical jump height, 20 m sprint time, time to completion of the counterterrorism simulation test, and target score will be analysed using paired-sample t-tests.

Conditions

Caffeine; Placebo

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

caffeine gum

Chewing caffeine gum for 10 minutes

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

caffeine

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

The participants chewing either caffeine Gum (CAF trial, containing 3 mg/kg of caffeine) or Placebo Gum (PL) for 10 minutes. After rested for 15 minutes, the participants underwent tests.

placebo gum

Chewing placebo gum for 10 minutes

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

caffeine

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

The participants chewing either caffeine Gum (CAF trial, containing 3 mg/kg of caffeine) or Placebo Gum (PL) for 10 minutes. After rested for 15 minutes, the participants underwent tests.

Interventions

caffeine

The participants chewing either caffeine Gum (CAF trial, containing 3 mg/kg of caffeine) or Placebo Gum (PL) for 10 minutes. After rested for 15 minutes, the participants underwent tests.

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Active Special Warfare Unit members who have passed the Grade A Special Forces Reserve Training
• No cardiovascular and joint diseases
• Adult male over 20 years old

Exclusion Criteria

• Non-active Special Warfare Unit members
• Have cardiovascular and joint diseases
• Under age

• Minimum Eligible Age: 20 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

National Taiwan Sport University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Chih-Hui Chiu

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

ChihHui Chiu, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Professor

Locations

National Taiwan University of Sport

Taichung, North, Taiwan

Countries

Taiwan

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Other Identifiers

113-7

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id