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Abstract

ABSTRACT This current study investigates the effect of caffeine on the testosterone and cortisol levels of university football players. For this purpose 120 university-level male football players (age: 22.39 ± 1.69 years; height: 172.9 ± 5.85 cm; body mass index: 23.45 ± 1.43 kg/m2 Mean ± SD) from South Punjab, Pakistan were selected. The players were divided into four groups, each of 30 to determine the effect of caffeine on hormonal levels of the players. Caffeine was administered to three groups (A, B, C) orally in the form of capsules containing caffeine at 3, 6 and 9 mg.kg-1, respectively. Group D was considered a placebo-control group and was given no caffeine. Testosterone and cortisol levels were determined 60 min before and after administration of different doses of caffeine. The results concluded that medium (6 mg.kg-1) and high doses (6, 9 mg.kg-1) caused significant increase in the levels of testosterone and cortisol of university football players. This increase in hormonal level was later reflected in sports efficiency.