The Effects of Acute Chicory Coffee Consumption on Exercise Performance and Metabolism

This study used a single-blind, randomized, controlled crossover design involving 22 healthy, moderately active male participants aged 18-25. Each participant underwent three intervention conditions in a randomized order: Chicory coffee (CC) Arabica coffee (AC) Control (no beverage) Before each trial, baseline data-including health status, dietary habits, and body composition-were collected. Participants consumed the assigned beverage 45 minutes before performing a shuttle-run test designed to assess endurance and physical performance. A 3-day washout period separated each intervention session to eliminate carryover effects. During each session, pre- and post-exercise measurements included: Blood glucose, lactate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation Subjective fatigue assessed by the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Additionally, venous blood samples were collected after exercise and analyzed for key metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers: Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) Adiponectin Interleukin-6 (IL-6) All blood samples were processed under cold-chain conditions and analyzed using ELISA methods. Dietary intake was monitored, and participants were instructed to maintain their usual eating habits while avoiding other caffeinated beverages during the study period. Statistical analysis included MANOVA and ANOVA, with Bonferroni corrections used for multiple comparisons.