The Effect of Caffeine on VO2max in Adolescent Athletes

Abstract

VO2max is the maximum amount of oxygen per minute that an athlete uses during exercise. The higher an athlete’s VO2max, the higher their fitness level and performance. Factors influencing VO2max levels include genetics, age, gender, body composition, nutritional intake, and duration of training. Proper nutritional intake can improve lung and muscle endurance and delay fatigue in athletes over extended periods. Caffeine consumption has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system. To date, many athletes consume caffeine as a stimulant to enhance performance. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of caffeine on VO2max in adolescent athletes. The method used in this study is a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). Articles were collected via Google Scholar, PLOS ONE, and PubMed journals related to the effects of caffeine on VO2max values in adolescent athletes, published between 2015 and 2025 in English and Indonesian, yielding 244 relevant articles. The results from the selected articles indicate a significant effect of caffeine administration on VO2max values in adolescents. Both low and moderate doses of caffeine have an effect. However, the greatest increase in VO2max occurs when caffeine administration is adjusted according to body weight.