The post-lunch effect of regular and decaffeinated coffee on psychomotor performance: a randomized double-blind cross-over study

Authors

  • Suganthi S. Ramachandran Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India
  • Vijay L. Kumar Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India
  • S. N. Dwivedi Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India
  • Vishwajeet Singh Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India
  • Pooja Gupta Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20212924

Keywords:

Caffeine, Coffee, Choice reaction time, Critical flicker fusion frequency, Hand steadiness test, Psychomotor performance

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to compare the effect of regular coffee and decaffeinated coffee on psychomotor performance in healthy volunteers during post-lunch period.

Methods: In this randomized double-blind cross-over study, adult healthy volunteers were given hot coffee (3 g each of regular or decaffeinated coffee) during post-lunch period. Psychomotor functions (critical flicker-fusion frequency (CFF), choice reaction time (CRT) and error count in hand-steadiness test (HST)), blood pressure and heart rate were measured pre-lunch, pre-coffee (1-hour post-lunch) and 1-hour post-coffee consumption. Subjective ratings of sleepiness and mood were also assessed during post-lunch sessions.

Results: The mean age of the participants (n=16) was 27.4±2.7 years with a male: female ratio of 7:9. There was no significant deterioration in psychomotor performance post-lunch when compared to pre-lunch on both the days. The mean CFF, CRT, errors committed in HST and cardiovascular parameters did not differ significantly between regular coffee and decaffeinated groups during post-lunch sessions. There was no significant difference in values of cardiovascular parameters as well as subjective ratings of sleep and mood between two groups.

Conclusions: In healthy adult individuals’ consumption of both regular coffee and decaffeinated coffee during the post-lunch period did not affect psychomotor performance.

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Published

2021-07-26

How to Cite

Ramachandran, S. S., Kumar, V. L., Dwivedi, S. N., Singh, V., & Gupta, P. (2021). The post-lunch effect of regular and decaffeinated coffee on psychomotor performance: a randomized double-blind cross-over study. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 10(8), 954–960. https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20212924

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Original Research Articles