Coffee break for the brain: study probes Caffeine's effect on brain oxygen
NCT ID NCT07191665
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This completed study looked at how caffeine and L-Arginine affect brain oxygen levels during mental tasks in 37 healthy adults aged 25-35. Participants took capsules containing caffeine, caffeine plus L-Arginine, or a placebo, and then performed memory tests while their brain oxygenation was measured using a special light-based technique (fNIRS). The goal was to see if these dietary components change brain activity patterns.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Caffeine and L-Arginine
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help researchers understand how certain dietary components like caffeine affect brain activity and thinking.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study in healthy adults, so results may not apply to the general population or lead to any treatment.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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37 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Nov 2023
- Finished
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Aug 2025
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
The study population will comprise of 36 healthy adults from 25 to 35 years old. To analyze gender-related differences, the population will be equally distributed according to gender.
- Ages
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25 to 35 years
- Sex
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Anyone
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Males and Females 25-35 years old * BMI between 18.5 kg/m2 and 29.9 kg/m2 * Conditions for study procedure compliance: * Willing and able to sign an informed consent form * Fluent in English (self-reported C1 or C2 English level) * Have reliable cortical oxygenation signal for subsequent analysis (based on the real-time computation of a parameter reflecting the quality of the signal, which may be influenced by variations in hair thickness) * Dominant right-handed * Have normal or corrected-to-normal vision * Willing and able to comply with the protocol requirements Exclusion Criteria: * Conditions that may affect cortical oxygenation: * Have a past or current neural, cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, or respiratory disease (based on anamnesis) * Have a past or current kidney disease or condition (based on anamnesis) * Measured hypo- or hyper-tension (verified by evaluating Blood Pressure, BP, measure against medical norms at screening) * Self-reported, suspected or diagnosed migraine (based on anamnesis) * Have a mild or clinical form of insomnia (verified by thresholding rated insomnia severity index, ISI, at or above 8) or being a night shift worker (based on anamnesis) * Regular smoker, regularly is being defined as more than 2 cigarettes per week * Participating in vigorous physical activity defined as requiring more than 6 metabolic equivalents (e.g., hiking, jogging at 10 km/h or more, carrying of heavy loads, bicycling fast at 23 km/h or more, basketball, soccer, and tennis single), greater than 4 times 45 minutes per week * Conditions that may affect cognition or mental fatigue: * Have a current psychiatric disorder or have a self-reported, suspected or diagnosed anxiety or depression (based on anamnesis) * Taking illicit drugs for e.g., cannabis, heroin, and cocaine * Have an average alcohol consumption defined as greater than 2 standard drinks per day over a week for males, and greater than 1 standard drink per day over a week for females. One standard drink contains 10-12 g of ethanol. Examples of standard drinks are one beer can (300 ml), one glass of wine (100 ml) or one glass of schnaps (30 ml). * Pregnant (verified by a pregnancy test in urine dipstick format provided by the study's site) or seeking to become pregnant or breast feeding (based on anamnesis) * Conditions that may interact with the IP mechanism: * Have food allergies and intolerances (based on anamnesis) * Have a high usual consumption of caffeine-based beverages and foods (verified by thresholding the daily consumption of caffeine as determined by the Caffeine Consumption Questionnaire, CCQ, at or above 600mg) * Body mass below 60kg (associated with a dosing of more than 3mg caffeine per 1kg of body mass) * Currently taking Sildenafil (based on anamnesis) * Self-reported, suspected or diagnosed with acute inflammatory diseases e.g., herpes simplex virus, allergies, or asthma (based on anamnesis) * Have a hierarchal or family relationship with any of the research team members. * Currently participating in an interventional study.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Clinical Innovation Lab
Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1000, Switzerland
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