Coffee 'key to running marathon'

Scientists have found that caffeine improves a person's power by nearly six per cent in any activity where muscles are not worked to the limit, such as running a marathon.

The discovery, which suggests that drinking coffee or tea could benefit a person involved in a sub-maximal activity, is expected to have serious implications for the use of the stimulant in sporting events like marathons.

With the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removing caffeine from the banned substances list in 2004, there is currently no law restricting the use of the stimulant.

This implies that sportsmen and women could legally improve their performance by using high doses of caffeine.

Study author Dr Rob James, from the University of Coventry's Department of Biomolecular and Sports Science, said: "A very high dosage of caffeine, most likely achieved via tablets, powder or a concentrated liquid, is feasible and might prove attractive to a number of athletes wishing to improve their athletic performance.

"A small increase in performance via caffeine could mean the difference between a gold medal in the Olympics and an also-ran."

Researchers tested the effect of caffeine on both the power output and endurance of lower leg muscles in mice, under both maximal - where the muscles are pushed to the limit - and sub-maximal activities.

Sub-maximal activities - where muscles are not worked to the limit - cover any thing from turning the pages of a book to running a marathon.

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