Study objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the interest of the intake of a new galenic form of caffeine called "slow-release" caffeine (SR caffeine) during a decrease of vigilance due to a limited sleep deprivation.
Design: The controlled method used compared three doses of SR caffeine (150, 300 and 600 mg) with a placebo. Tests were performed 2, 9 and 13 hours after each treatment. Wakefulness level was assessed subjectively through questionnaires and analog visual scales, and objectively with the Multiple Sleep Latency Test. Performance level was also assessed regularly with an attention test, a grammatical reasoning test, a spatial recognition test, a mathematical processing test, a visual tracking test, a memory search test, and a dual task. The motor activity was evaluated by wrist actimeter and safety of treatment was observed by regular clinical examination.
Setting: NA.
Participants: Twenty-four young and healthy volunteers (12 men and 12 women) participated in a 32-hour sleep deprivation.
Interventions: NA.
Results: The results show a significant effect of slow-release caffeine vs. placebo, and on vigilance and performance when subjects became tired. The effects of SR caffeine lasted 13 hours after treatment. SR caffeine 300 and 600 mg are efficacious doses but the optimal dose (maximum effect without any side effects) for both men and women is after all 300 mg. Globally, there is no difference between placebo and caffeine during the recovery night period.
Conclusions: SR caffeine (300 mg) seems to be an efficient and safety substance to maintain a good level of vigilance and performance during limited sleep deprivation.