Sources of Caffeine

Pyrimidines and purines occur naturally in substances other than nucleic acids Coffee for example is a familiar source of caffeine Tea contains both caffeine and theobromine... 

Two other commonly found sources of caffeine (16) are kola Cold) from the seeds of, for example. Cola nitida (Vent.) Schott and Engl., which contains 1—4% of the alkaloid, but Httie theophylline or theobromine, and cocoa (from the seeds of Theobroma cacao L.), which generally contains about 3% theobromine and significantiy less caffeine. 

Sources of caffeine intake also were assessed in a biradal sample of 1284 children aged 6 months to 17 years during 1973 to 1982 of the Bogalusa Heart Study.56 Overall, mean intakes of caffeine were higher... 

Significant scientific attention has focused on caffeine and its health effects. However, limited data is available for the actual dietary consumption of caffeine or theobromine from individual foods. Even less data exists on the contribution of cocoa and chocolate foods to methylxanthine intake. In children and teenagers, the major dietary source of caffeine was found to be tea, followed by soft drinks and coffee, respectively. Although chocolate foods and beverages ranked the lowest of these dietary sources to provide caffeine, they do constitute the major source of dietary theobromine. In order to gain a better insight into the amount of methylxanthines consumed via the diet, more studies on the methylxanthine content of chocolate foods, as well as beverages, are needed. 

Morgan, K., Stults, V., Zabik, M., Amount and dietary sources of caffeine and saccharin intake by individuals ages 5 to 18 years, Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol., 2, 296, 1982. 

This chapter will cover the production of coffee, tea, and cocoa, which comprise the primary crops that account for the majority of worldwide caffeine consumption. Caffeine-containing crops and products comprise a large share of the international market and are primary commodities for many national economies.3 4 Trade of such products is also important in the understanding of availability, market demand, and overall exposure to caffeine from various sources. Information is presented to a lesser degree for soft drinks, many of which do contain caffeine and are consumed primarily in the industrialized nations. Another source of caffeine exposure which contributes less than any beverages and foods under consideration are prescription and non-prescription medications, which are described in lesser detail. 

Table 1 describes several of the most common sources of caffeine, their region of origin, how they are used and consumed, and the variability in caffeine content.1... 

Ref. Subject Design Outcome variable(s) Source of caffeine data Findings... 

The drinking of tea had provided the main stimulant (caffeine) in the Far East for over 4000 years. Another source of caffeine, coffee, has a much shorter, but equally interesting and important history. 

Coffee beans are the primary source of caffeine. These beans are obtained from a variety of plants but can be broadly grouped into two classes arabica and robusta. Arabica is obtained from the species Coffea arabica and robusta from the species Cojfea canephora. Robusta, as the... 

Other herbal stimulants include guarana or kola, which are natural sources of caffeine, just like the coffee bean. There are many such concoctions of caffeine or ephedra on the market, or recently taken off the market (Table 5.2). 

Effects of caffeine on the heart can be considerable. Rapid or irregular heartbeats can result from ingesting large amounts of caffeine. People at risk for heart attacks might be ill advised to drink coffee or indulge in other sources of caffeine. Caffeine intake exceeding the amount found in five or more cups of drip coffee a day results in a statistically increased risk of cardiac arrest. 

One of the most famous sources of caffeine is chocolate, also made from the seeds of a tropical tree. Chocolate, which contains a lot of fat and is very bitter, must be mixed with sugar to make it palatable. It, too, contains a stimulating drug, and cases of chocolate dependence are easy to find. You probably know a few "chocoholics." People who regularly consume chocolate or go on chocolate-eating binges may not realize they are involved with a drug, but their consumption usually follows the same sort of pattern as with coffee, tea, and cola drinks. 

Sources of Caffeine History of Caffeine Use Prevalence of Caffeine Consumption Pharmacology of Caffeine... 

We begin our review of caffeine by presenting the sources of caffeine and a brief history of its use. We then discuss current prevalence statistics. Following that we describe caffeine s pharmacological action, development of tolerance to and physical dependence on caffeine, and caffeine s acute and chronic effects. We conclude with a review of some therapeutic uses of caffeine and other major methylxanthine drugs. 

Tea is the dominant source of caffeine in the United Kingdom, and the same is true fbr its close neighbor Ireland. Brazil is the world s leading producer of coffee (more than 25% of the total), but its citizens ... 

Coffee is the most popular source of caffeine in the United States. 

Overall, coffee is the major source of caffeine, but for many countries tea is the dominant source. In the last 20 years soft drinks have grown to be another significant caffeine source. 

The half-life of caffeine in humans is approximately 3.5 to 5 hours. It is metabolized extensively according to a complex metabolic pathway occurring primarily in the liver. Serious problems rarely result from overdoses of caffeine. In fact, the amount of caffeine needed to cause death in an average adult male is 5 to 10 g, the equivalent of 50 to 100 cups of regular brewed coffee. Thus the risk of overdose from dietary sources of caffeine is virtually nonexistent. 

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