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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Jul 28;17(15):2455.
doi: 10.3390/nu17152455.

Effect of Caffeinated Chewing Gum on Maximal Strength, Muscular Power, and Muscle Recruitment During Bench Press and Back Squat Exercises

Li Ding  1   2 , Jue Liu  3 , Yixuan Ma  2 , Tze-Huan Lei  4 , Mathew Barnes  5 , Li Guo  6 , Bin Chen  7 , Yinhang Cao  1   2 , Olivier Girard  8
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of Caffeinated Chewing Gum on Maximal Strength, Muscular Power, and Muscle Recruitment During Bench Press and Back Squat Exercises

Li Ding et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effects of caffeinated chewing gum on maximal strength, muscular power, and neural drive to the prime movers during bench press and back squat in resistance-trained men. Methods: Sixteen resistance-trained males participated in a double-blind, randomized trial, chewing either caffeinated gum (4 mg/kg) or placebo gum on two separate occasions, seven days apart. After chewing for 5 min, participants performed a maximal strength test followed by muscular power assessments at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 90% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM), completing with 3, 2, 1, and 1 repetition (s), respectively, for bench press and back squat. Surface electromyography data were recorded for each repetition. Results: Caffeinated gum did not significantly improve one-repetition maximum (1RM) for bench press (p > 0.05), but increased mean frequency (MF) and median frequency (MDF) in anterior deltoid, pectoralis major, and biceps brachii (all p < 0.05) compared to placebo. For back squat, 1RM increased with caffeinated gum, along with higher MF and MDF in vastus medialis (all p < 0.05). Caffeinated gum also improved mean and peak velocities, and mean and peak power outputs at 25-75% 1RM during the bench press (all p < 0.05), along with elevated MDF in pectoralis major and biceps brachii (all p < 0.05). Similar improvements were seen in mean and peak velocities during the back squat at 25-90% 1RM (all p < 0.05), along with higher MF and MDF in vastus medialis and increased normalized root mean square activity in gluteus maximus (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Caffeinated chewing gum (4 mg/kg) enhanced muscular power (25-75% 1RM) in the bench press and improved maximal strength and muscular power (25-90% 1RM) in the back squat by increasing muscle recruitment in resistance-trained men.

Keywords: ergogenic aid; neuromuscular function; nutritional supplement; one-maximum repetition; resistance exercise.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure A1
Figure A1
Mean and peak velocity at 25–50% 1RM before and after substance ingestion for the bench press (A,B) and back squat (C,D). Error bars represent standard deviations. * p < 0.05 vs. placebo.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Experimental protocol overview.
Figure 2
Figure 2
One-repetition maximum in the bench press (A) and back squat (B). Mean change in one-repetition maximum as a percentage for different exercise types. * p < 0.05 vs. placebo.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean and peak velocity in the bench press (A,B) and back squat (C,D). Error bars represent standard deviation. * p < 0.05 vs. placebo, # p < 0.05 vs. 25% 1RM.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mean and peak power output in the bench press (A,B) and back squat (C,D). Error bars represent standard deviation. * p < 0.05 vs. placebo.
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