• Eduardo Prado, Aníbal Magalhães-Neto, José Rezende Neto, Adriana Bassini, and Luiz-Claudio Cameron.
• Laboratory for Research in Physical Exercise and Metabolism, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil.
• Nutrition. 2021 Nov 1; 91-92: 111377.

ObjectivesBoth exercise and a ketogenic (low-carbohydrate) diet favor glycogen depletion and increase ammonemia, which can impair physical performance. Caffeine supplementation has been routinely used to improve exercise performance. Herein, the effect of xanthine was evaluated on ammonemia in cyclists who were placed on a ketogenic diet and engaged in prolonged exercise.MethodsFourteen male cyclists followed a ketogenic diet for 2 d before and during the experimental trial. The cyclists were assigned to either the caffeine- (CEx; n = 7) or placebo-supplemented (LEx; n = 7) group. Blood samples were obtained during cycling and the recovery periods.ResultsThe CEx group showed a significant decrease (up to 25%) in blood ammonia at 60, 90, and 120 min after beginning exercise compared with the LEx group. A higher concentration of apparent blood urea was observed in the LEx group than in the CEx group at 60 to 90 min of exercise (~10%). In addition, a significant increase in blood glucose levels was evident at 30 min of exercise (~28%), and an increase in blood lactate levels was visible during the first 30 to 60 min of exercise (~80%) in the CEx group.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the consumption of caffeine might attenuate the increase in ammonemia that occurs during exercise.Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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