The Effects of Caffeine and Vitamin C on Maximum Strength and Strength Endurance in Adolescents With Mild Mental Fatigue

Objective To investigate the independent and combined effects of caffeine and vitamin C on maximal strength and strength endurance in female adolescents with mild mental fatigue.

Methods A randomised, double-blind, crossover experimental design was adopted. Forty female college students presenting mild mental fatigue were recruited as participants. Each participant completed five laboratory sessions in total. The first session determined their one-repetition maximum (1RM) for bench press and back squat. The remaining four experimental sessions involved four supplement interventions administered in random order: placebo control, vitamin C (VC) alone, caffeine (CAF) alone, and combined caffeine plus vitamin C (CAF+VC). A one-week washout interval was arranged between every two supplementation trials.

In each test session, participants completed a 45-min Stroop task to induce mental fatigue prior to exercise assessments. Measurements included the Visual Analogue Scale for Mental Fatigue (VAS-MF), 1RM bench press and squat performance, as well as the maximal number of repetitions at 65% 1RM for both movements. Immediately after the strength endurance test, perceived exertion and muscle pain were rated. Blood glucose and blood lactate concentrations were sampled before and after all exercise protocols.

Supplementation was administered 1 hour prior to testing: a standard caffeine dosage of 3.0 mg per kg body mass and a single 500 mg dose of vitamin C were provided for the corresponding intervention groups.