{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]],"date-time":"2026-06-11T15:22:27Z","timestamp":1781191347867,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,17]],"date-time":"2026-01-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768608000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Proyecto PLACEBO","award":["PID2020-119162GB-I00"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PID2020-119162GB-I00"]}]},{"name":"2020\u2014\u00abProyectos de I + D + i\u00bb","award":["PID2020-119162GB-I00\/AEI\/10.13039\/501100011033"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PID2020-119162GB-I00\/AEI\/10.13039\/501100011033"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Deceptive caffeine ingestion has shown inconsistent effects as an ergogenic aid for short-term exercises. Objective: Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential placebo effect of deceptive caffeine ingestion on short-term performance during countermovement and repeated-jump tests, as well as bench press throw and bench press-to-failure assessments, and to document any associated side effects. Methods: A repeated, randomized, and counterbalanced design was implemented to compare the effects of ingesting a placebo claimed to be caffeine with a control condition in which no substance was consumed. Twenty-five physically active young adults (17 men and 8 women) completed a countermovement jump (CMJ) test, a 15 s repeated-jump test, bench press throws at 25%, 50%, and 75% of 1RM, and a bench press-to-failure test at 75% of 1RM and also completed a questionnaire regarding potential side effects. Results: Performance was similar between the placebo and control in the CMJ (38.1 \u00b1 6.8 vs. 37.5 \u00b1 6.8 cm; p = 0.225; d = 0.25) and in the 15 s repeated-jump test (p &gt; 0.05; trivial\u2013small effects). In the bench press throw, propulsive mean velocity did not differ at 25% 1RM (p = 0.296; d = 0.23) or 50% 1RM (p = 0.626; d = 0.10). However, deceptive caffeine ingestion increased propulsive mean velocity at 75% 1RM (0.500 \u00b1 0.131 vs. 0.480 \u00b1 0.131 m\/s; p = 0.024; d = 0.48) and increased repetitions to failure at the same load (11.9 \u00b1 3.7 vs. 11.0 \u00b1 3.1; p = 0.047; d = 0.42). Mean velocity during the first 3 repetitions tended to be higher with the placebo (p = 0.064; d = 0.39), while final repetitions were similar (p = 0.469; d = 0.15). The most common side effects were increased activeness (34.8%) and nervousness (17.4%). Conclusions: In summary, deceptive caffeine ingestion had minimal impact on jump and ballistic bench press performance in physically active individuals. However, repetitions to failure were improved by \u22481 repetition (+8.2%). These findings suggest that the placebo effect of caffeine is unlikely to serve as a reliable strategy for enhancing short-term exercise performance.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu18020295","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,19]],"date-time":"2026-01-19T09:57:02Z","timestamp":1768816622000},"page":"295","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Deceptive Caffeine Shows Limited Impact on Short-Term Neuromuscular Performance"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-8642-7978","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fernando","family":"Valero","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Sport Training Laboratory, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christian Jos\u00e9","family":"Viudez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sport Training Laboratory, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sergio De la","family":"Calle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sport Training Laboratory, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6327-6958","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fernando","family":"Gonz\u00e1lez-Moh\u00edno","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sport Training Laboratory, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4153-5100","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Juan Jos\u00e9","family":"Salinero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sport Training Laboratory, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"554","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMra1907805","article-title":"Placebo and Nocebo Effects","volume":"382","author":"Colloca","year":"2020","journal-title":"N. Engl. J. Med."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1790","DOI":"10.1098\/rstb.2010.0381","article-title":"Placebo mechanisms across different conditions: From the clinical setting to physical performance","volume":"366","author":"Pollo","year":"2011","journal-title":"Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1383","DOI":"10.1080\/17461391.2018.1496144","article-title":"Consensus statement on placebo effects in sports and exercise: The need for conceptual clarity, methodological rigour, and the elucidation of neurobiological mechanisms","volume":"18","author":"Beedie","year":"2018","journal-title":"Eur. J. Sport Sci."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"267","DOI":"10.1080\/00029157.2014.976785","article-title":"Placebo and nocebo effects: A complex interplay between psychological factors and neurochemical networks","volume":"57","author":"Frisaldi","year":"2015","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Hypn."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20340","DOI":"10.4414\/smw.2020.20340","article-title":"Understanding the mechanisms of placebo and nocebo effects","volume":"150","author":"Frisaldi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Swiss Med. Wkly."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e077243","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2023-077243","article-title":"Placebo and nocebo effects and mechanisms associated with pharmacological interventions: An umbrella review","volume":"13","author":"Frisaldi","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.1080\/17461391.2019.1655098","article-title":"The Placebo and Nocebo effect on sports performance: A systematic review","volume":"20","author":"Hurst","year":"2020","journal-title":"Eur. J. Sport Sci."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chhabra, B., and Szabo, A. (2024). Placebo and Nocebo Effects on Sports and Exercise Performance: A Systematic Literature Review Update. Nutrients, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu16131975"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2159","DOI":"10.1249\/01.mss.0000233805.56315.a9","article-title":"Placebo effects of caffeine on cycling performance","volume":"38","author":"Beedie","year":"2006","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"259","DOI":"10.1123\/ijsnem.17.3.259","article-title":"Positive and Negative Placebo Effects Resulting from the Deceptive Administration of an Ergogenic Aid","volume":"17","author":"Beedie","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int. J. Sport Nutr. Exerc. Metab."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"39","article-title":"Caffeine, lactic acid, or nothing: What effect does expectation have on men\u2019s performance and perceived exertion during an upper body muscular endurance task?","volume":"17","author":"Campelo","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Health Sci."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1185","DOI":"10.23736\/S0022-4707.21.11659-7","article-title":"Perceived exertion and performance modulation: Effects of caffeine ingestion and subject expectation","volume":"61","author":"Azevedo","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Sports Med. Phys. Fitness"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Aguilar-Navarro, M., Mu\u00f1oz, G., Salinero, J.J., Mu\u00f1oz-Guerra, J., Fern\u00e1ndez-\u00e1lvarez, M., Plata, M.D.M., and Del Coso, J. (2019). Urine Caffeine Concentration in Doping Control Samples from 2004 to 2015. Nutrients, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu11020286"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"833","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-018-0980-7","article-title":"What Should We Do About Habitual Caffeine Use in Athletes?","volume":"49","author":"Pickering","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"524","DOI":"10.1055\/s-2007-989231","article-title":"Caffeine consumption amongst British athletes following changes to the 2004 WADA prohibited list","volume":"29","author":"Chester","year":"2008","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12970-020-00383-4","article-title":"International society of sports nutrition position stand: Caffeine and exercise performance","volume":"18","author":"Guest","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Int. Soc. Sports Nutr."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"681","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2018-100278","article-title":"Wake up and smell the coffee: Caffeine supplementation and exercise performance-an umbrella review of 21 published meta-analyses","volume":"54","author":"Grgic","year":"2020","journal-title":"Br. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wang, Z., Qiu, B., Gao, J., and Del Coso, J. (2022). Effects of Caffeine Intake on Endurance Running Performance and Time to Exhaustion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients, 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu15010148"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2281","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-021-01521-x","article-title":"Effects of Caffeine on Resistance Exercise: A Review of Recent Research","volume":"51","author":"Grgic","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"785","DOI":"10.2165\/00007256-200131110-00002","article-title":"Caffeine and Exercise","volume":"31","author":"Graham","year":"2001","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1186\/1550-2783-7-5","article-title":"International society of sports nutrition position stand: Caffeine and performance","volume":"7","author":"Goldstein","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Int. Soc. Sports Nutr."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Giraldez-Costas, V., Del Coso, J., Manas, A., and Salinero, J.J. (2023). The Long Way to Establish the Ergogenic Effect of Caffeine on Strength Performance: An Overview Review. Nutrients, 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu15051178"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"644","DOI":"10.1111\/sms.14109","article-title":"Effects of caffeine on rate of force development: A meta-analysis","volume":"32","author":"Grgic","year":"2021","journal-title":"Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"717","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-019-01211-9","article-title":"Acute Effects of Caffeine Supplementation on Movement Velocity in Resistance Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis","volume":"50","author":"Castillo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.2478\/hukin-2020-0024","article-title":"Caffeine Increases Muscle Performance during a Bench Press Training Session","volume":"74","author":"Lara","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Hum. Kinet."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1186\/1550-2783-9-21","article-title":"Dose response effects of a caffeine-containing energy drink on muscle performance: A repeated measures design","volume":"9","author":"Salinero","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Int. Soc. Sports Nutr."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ding, L., Liu, J., Yao, Y., Guo, L., Chen, B., Cao, Y., and Girard, O. (2025). Caffeinated chewing gum enhances maximal strength and muscular endurance during bench press and back squat exercises in resistance-trained men. Front. Nutr., 12.","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2025.1540552"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"947","DOI":"10.1007\/s00394-021-02708-8","article-title":"Acute effects of two caffeine doses on bar velocity during the bench press exercise among women habituated to caffeine: A randomized, crossover, double-blind study involving control and placebo conditions","volume":"61","author":"Krzysztofik","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eur. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2400513","DOI":"10.1080\/15502783.2024.2400513","article-title":"Caffeine, but not paracetamol (acetaminophen), enhances muscular endurance, strength, and power","volume":"21","author":"Scapec","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Int. Soc. Sports Nutr."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"448","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.2019-1028","article-title":"Both Caffeine and Placebo Improve Vertical Jump Performance Compared With a Nonsupplemented Control Condition","volume":"16","author":"Grgic","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1013","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.2013-0448","article-title":"Enhancing physical performance in male volleyball players with a caffeine-containing energy drink","volume":"9","author":"Salinero","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"850","DOI":"10.1249\/MSS.0000000000000455","article-title":"Caffeinated energy drinks improve volleyball performance in elite female players","volume":"47","author":"Salinero","year":"2015","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1494","DOI":"10.1017\/S0007114514002189","article-title":"The use of energy drinks in sport: Perceived ergogenicity and side effects in male and female athletes","volume":"112","author":"Salinero","year":"2014","journal-title":"Br. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2184","DOI":"10.1249\/MSS.0b013e31829a6672","article-title":"Neuromuscular responses to incremental caffeine doses: Performance and side effects","volume":"45","author":"Ortega","year":"2013","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3823","DOI":"10.1007\/s00394-022-02874-3","article-title":"Risk or benefit? Side effects of caffeine supplementation in sport: A systematic review","volume":"61","author":"Fonseca","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eur. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.2174\/1570159X13666141210215655","article-title":"Caffeine: Cognitive and physical performance enhancer or psychoactive drug?","volume":"13","author":"Cappelletti","year":"2015","journal-title":"Curr. Neuropharmacol."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"483","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.2019-0230","article-title":"Improved 1000-m Running Performance and Pacing Strategy With Caffeine and Placebo: A Balanced Placebo Design Study","volume":"15","author":"Hurst","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform."},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"95","article-title":"Exploring the potential synergistic pharmacological and psychological effects of caffeine on exercise performance: A placebo-balanced study","volume":"43","author":"Coso","year":"2026","journal-title":"Biol. Sport"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"787","DOI":"10.55860\/9gtzx446","article-title":"The placebo effect does not enhance sprinting or jumping performance in trained athletes","volume":"20","author":"Valero","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Hum. Sport Exerc."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1186\/s12970-019-0276-9","article-title":"Effects of placebo on bench throw performance of Paralympic weightlifting athletes: A pilot study","volume":"16","author":"Costa","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Int. Soc. Sports Nutr."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ortiz-S\u00e1nchez, D., Bravo-S\u00e1nchez, A., Ram\u00edrez-delaCruz, M., Abi\u00e1n, P., Abi\u00e1n-Vic\u00e9n, J., Ortiz-S\u00e1nchez, D., Bravo-S\u00e1nchez, A., Ram\u00edrez-delaCruz, M., Abi\u00e1n, P., and Abi\u00e1n-Vic\u00e9n, J. (2024). Placebo Effect of Caffeine on Physiological Parameters and Physical Performance. Nutrients, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu16101405"},{"key":"ref_42","first-page":"60","article-title":"Placebo doping in sport: Overview and ethical considerations","volume":"7","author":"Szabo","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Sport Exerc. Sci."},{"key":"ref_43","first-page":"108","article-title":"Muscular endurance repetitions to predict bench press strength in men of different training levels","volume":"35","author":"Mayhew","year":"1995","journal-title":"J. Sports Med. Phys. Fitness"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1039","DOI":"10.1080\/07420528.2025.2524520","article-title":"Muscular strength and power and endurance performance at loads exceeding 25% of one-repetition maximum are unaffected by time-of-day in resistance-trained male participants","volume":"42","author":"Valades","year":"2025","journal-title":"Chronobiol. Int."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1594","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000004436","article-title":"Reliability, Usefulness, and Validity of Field-Based Vertical Jump Measuring Devices","volume":"37","author":"Comyns","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Strength Cond. Res."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1258","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000003118","article-title":"Reliability and Concurrent Validity of Seven Commercially Available Devices for the Assessment of Movement Velocity at Different Intensities During the Bench Press","volume":"33","author":"Piepoli","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Strength Cond. Res."},{"key":"ref_47","unstructured":"Hopkins, W.G. (2025, November 30). A Scale of Magnitudes for Effect Statistics. Available online: http:\/\/www.sportsci.org\/resource\/stats\/."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"211","DOI":"10.2165\/00007256-200131030-00005","article-title":"Reliability of power in physical performance tests","volume":"31","author":"Hopkins","year":"2001","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"244","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.4.2.244","article-title":"Placebo effects of caffeine on short-term resistance exercise to failure","volume":"4","author":"Duncan","year":"2009","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform."}],"container-title":["Nutrients"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/18\/2\/295\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,19]],"date-time":"2026-01-19T10:01:54Z","timestamp":1768816914000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/18\/2\/295"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,17]]},"references-count":49,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]}},"alternative-id":["nu18020295"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nu18020295","relation":{},"ISSN":["2072-6643"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2072-6643","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,17]]}}}