Caffeine Research Paper

Caffeine (1,3,7-trymethylxanthine) is one of the most widely used drugs in the world. This naturally occurring bitter substance belongs to a family of chemicals called the methylxanthine alkaloids (cite lamarine and chem website.) It is a white crystalline purine that is related structurally to adenosine, a DNA and RNA nucleoside composed of adenine and d-ribose. Caffeine can be extracted from coffee and cocoa beans, tea leaves, guarana berries and the kola nut of various plants native to South Africa and East Asia(cite Turnbull). Caffeine has the most potent effect on the brain and skeletal muscles and acts primarily as an adenosine receptor antagonist with psychotropic and anti-inflammatory activities (Website chem). Caffeine is completely

absorbed from the GI tract reaching peak blood concentrations within 30 – 60 minutes of ingestion, which will continue to increase due to caffeine’s half - life of 4-6 hours (cite Lamarine). Once consumed, caffeine will bind to the adenosine receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) and thus inhibit adenosine binding.

This in turn, inhibits the adenosine-mediated donwregulation of the central nervous system activity, which activates the medullary, vagal, vasomotor, and respiratory centers in the brain (cite web). Caffeine is also associated with anti-inflammatory effects on the body. This effect is due to the nonselective competitive inhibition of phosphodiesterases (PDEs), which raise the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP (cAMP), activate protein kinase A, and inhibit leukotriene synthesis leading to reduced inflammation and innate immunity (cite Web). Found in coffees, teas, energy drinks and carbonated soft drinks, this highly addictive substance is often used to help improve athletic performance, mood, mental alertness, concentration and fatigue and reaction time (Heckman et al., 2010). Caffeine consumption is often associated with health risks such as anxiety, headaches, nausea, and restlessness as well as an increased risk in hypertension and cardiovascular diseases (Heckman et al., 2010, cited in Mitchell et al.,

2014).
Disadvantages of Caffeine Use
Caffeine consumption can have many drawbacks.

Caffeine consumption among pregnant women was found to have several consequences including depression and anxiety as well as disrupted sleep (Diego et al). Caffeine use during pregnancy was also related to lower birth weight in children. This low birth weight could have been due to caffeine reducing placental blood flow and thus liming oxygen and nutrient delivery for the fetus or it could have been due to caffeine directly crossing the placenta, and therefore affecting the amount of oxygen consumption, energy expenditure, weight gain and fetal central nervous system development (Diego et al). Caffeine consumption among secondary school age children was associated with depression, stress and anxiety, with depression being reported higher by females and higher instances of anxiety being reported by males (Richards, G., and Smith,

A.).
Benefits of Caffeine Use
While caffeine use is often thought of being hazardous to one’s health, not all effects are bad. When used appropriately, caffeine can have a number of benefits and stimulatory effects including increased exercise capacity, elevated mood and a decrease in depression, a decrease in fatigue, increased alertness and cognitive performance, an increase in metabolism and it may even aid in reducing or delaying the development of Parkinson’s Disease (cite). It has been shown that caffeine has a positive effect on exercise capacity. In a study done by Cornish et al., it was concluded that caffeine consumption one hour before exercise increased exercise capacity by 3.0% in prostate cancer survivors by reducing the time to complete a 400m-walk test. Cornish also documented that caffeine use increased muscular strength, specifically; forearm strength, which was measured by isometric grip with improvements of 2.9% and 2.1% for dominant and non-dominant hands respectively. The ergogenic effect of caffeine was also seen in a study conducted by Pallares et al., which concluded a significant increase and improvement
Depression is a common mood disorder characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in daily activities. In a meta-analysis performed by Grosso et. al., it was determined that moderate to high consumption of coffee and other caffeinated products such as tea were associated with a lower risk of developing depression. A J-shaped curve was found between the risk of depression and consumption of caffeinated products. Compounds found in coffee including trigonelline, N-methylpyridinium, chlorogenic acid, catechol, pyrogallol, and 5-hydroxytryptamides have been shown to increase calcium signaling and dopamine release which may counteract the depressed status in a person (Walker et. al, cited in Grosso et., al.)