College caffeine research cited in Shape

Research conducted Grove City College was prominently cited in a story in the December issue of Shape magazine about the benefits of caffeine as a workout enhancer.

“Why Caffeine Is the Best Thing That's Ever Happened to Your Workout” is based in part on a scholarly paper by Dr. Philip J. Prins, assistant professor of exercise science, and others, including Gary L Welton, assistant dean for institutional assessment and professor of psychology, that was published in November in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

Research done at Grove City College focused on caffeine’s impact on endurance, indicating drinking about 160 milligrams – about one 10-oz. cup of coffee – can improve recreational runners' 5K times by about 30 seconds.

Caffeine also increases activity in the central nervous system and makes users feel more alert and awake, which sharpens concentration and speeds reaction times, Prins told Shape. 

Prins worked with exercise science majors Grace Majchrowicz ’17, Jessica Althausen ’17, Teresa Dallatore ’17, Julie Fijal ’17 and Natalie Sorek ’16 on the research, which was included in the journal article “Effects of Energy Drink Functional Ingredients on Running Performance.” Grace presented the research findings in November at the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference in Harrisburg, Pa. 

Grove City College’s Department of Exercise Science offers students a well-rounded curriculum that balances theory and practice, allowing students to receive specialized instruction in exercise science, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, ethics and personal training.

To learn more about exercise science at Grove City College, visit www.gcc.edu/exer.