Clinical trial · Exercise · 9 Nov 2026
In 22 men ages 18 to 25, one cup of arabica or chicory coffee did not change a shuttle-run exercise score
Source: Physiological Reports
What the research found
Physiological Reports published a crossover study on 9 November 2026. Fatma Özsel Özcan, Ceyda Okudu, and colleagues tested 22 moderately active men ages 18 to 25. Each man drank 180 mL of arabica coffee, chicory coffee, or no coffee. The no-coffee session came first. The two coffees were randomized, with 3 days between sessions. The drink was taken 45 minutes before a 20-meter shuttle-run exercise test. Shuttle distance, perceived exertion, and estimated VO2 max did not differ (all p > 0.05). The other timed measures showed no condition-by-time interaction. After the run, LPL concentration differed across conditions (p = 0.038) and was numerically highest after chicory coffee (27.72 ng/mL). IL-6 was numerically lower after chicory coffee (38.03 pg/mL; p = 0.094), which was not significant. TNF-alpha and adiponectin did not differ. One drink before one test. DOI 10.14814/phy2.71200. Not medical advice.
Evidence level: Clinical trial. This is among the stronger kinds of evidence, but one study rarely settles a question.
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