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Abstract

Caffeine is widely acknowledged for its positive impact on athletic performance and is frequently consumed by athletes but has also been reported to affect the gastrointestinal system and sleep quality depending on its consumption frequency. In this study, we investigate how the frequency of caffeine intake influences gastrointestinal symptoms and sleep quality in male athletes. A total of 196 active male combat sports athletes with an average age of 21.36±2.457 years and a sporting experience of 9.30±3.786 years were assessed for their caffeine intake frequency using a structured self-report questionnaire. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), while gastrointestinal health symptoms were measured using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) 26.0 software, and Pearson Correlation Analysis and descriptive statistics were used to assess the relationships. The analysis revealed that there was no significant relationship between frequency of caffeine consumption and gastrointestinal symptoms and sleep quality in male athletes (p>0.05). Additionally, when specific sleep quality subscales were examined, no significant relationship was found with the frequency of caffeine use (p>0.05). In addition to this, no significant relationship was found between the frequency of caffeine intake and the sub-dimensions of gastrointestinal symptoms (p>0.05). As a result of the research, it was determined that caffeine, an ergogenic aid that is not classified as doping, does not have any negative effects on sleep and stomach health. In this context, it is thought that caffeine supplementation does not negatively affect health and can be a good alternative ergogenic aid to increase the performance of male athletes