Caffeine

Question 1

Xanthines

Answer 1

• Group of psychostimulant drugs
  
  • Caffeine
  • Theophylline (divine leaf) tea
  • Theobromine >> Chocolate (10x less strong)

Question 2

Coffee History

Answer 2

• Coffee Arabica first harvested ethiopia >> discovered by a child who noticed goats were getting ***buzzzed*** off of these beans
• William Harvey first drinker of coffee in England >> believed it was a cure for drunkenness
• In USA coffeehouses were popular >> places of culture as opposed to taverns

Question 3

Coffee Bean species

Answer 3

2 species of coffee beans

Arabica: Brazil and Columbia (better taste less bitter, 70% worlds coffee)

Robusta: Java, Ivory Coast >> Harsher taste/double caffeine

Question 4

Coffee production (Normal)

Answer 4

• How is it made
  
  • Dry method: berries dried in sun for 2-3 weeks
  • Wet method: berries soaked for 24 hours washed and dried in the sun
• Results >> green coffee bean >> roast 5 minutes at 400-500 degrees >> longer roasting stronger flavor
• After roasting flavor kicks in 24-72 hours >> not fresh after 7 days
• Caffeine content: a standard cup of coffee is 5 ounces >> 80 mg caffeine

Question 5

Instant coffee methods

Answer 5

• Spray-dried method: Brewed coffee dried by hot air
• Freeze-dried method: coffee is frozen and separated by water

Question 6

Tea History

Answer 6

• Discovered by Chinese emperor Shen Nung 2737 B.C.
• Tea comes from leaves Camellia sinensis
• Dutch brought it to Europe but wasn’t popular in England until 1662 with a royal marriage
• Boston Tea party

Question 7

What is in the tea

Answer 7

Xanthines

• Caffeine >> 60mg/cup Twinings English
• Theophylline

Non-xanthines

• Polyphenols: common in green but not black (leaves are fermented which takes them away)
  
  • beneficial in heart disease prevention, inflammatory disease, and some cancers

Question 8

Chocolate History

Answer 8

• Chocolate comes from cocoa bean pods
• Cultivated by Mayas Incas and Aztecs >> Present from the Gods
• Eaten by Wealthy hidden from poor
• Cortes added vanilla and chocolate and gave it as a present to the Spanish Emperor >> hidden Spanish secret
• Chocolate is love because it was presented to Spanish princess as a wedding present

Question 9

How is chocolate made & concentrations of chemicals in chocolate

Answer 9

• Cocoa beans roasted >> fat in beans (cocoa butter melts) + cocoa solids >> chocolate liquor >> baking chocolate
• If you remove cocoa butter from Liquor
  
  • Pure cocoa butter >> white chocolate
• One ounce of chocolate
  
  • 6 mg of caffeine
  • 44 mg theobromine (10x less strong than caffeine)

Question 10

Caffeine Absorption & distribution

Answer 10

• Absorption >> orally
  
  • 30-60 minute peak levels
• Distribution
  
  • Crosses blood-brain barrier (lipid and water-soluble)
  • Crosses placenta
  • Present in Milk

Question 11

Caffeine Excretion (half-life & breakdown)

Answer 11

• • Half-life: 4-6 hours– depends on factors
• Breakdown slower (stays in system longer)
  
  • Pregnant or contraceptive
  • children and older people
  • With alcohol
  • Menstrual cycle: half-life during ovulation is longer than after ovulation
• Breakdown faster:
  
  • Smokers >> 2x faster
  • Broccoli

Question 12

Caffeine in the brain

Answer 12

• Adenosine receptor antagonist >> blocks
  
  • Inhibits adenosine: inhibits inhibitor: stimulates
  • Adenosine: slows down nerve cell activity
    
    • Causes sleepiness
    • Inhibits the release of NT
    • Inhibits of the firing of neurons
• Increases epinephrine
• Increase of dopamine

Question 13

Physiological effects Caffeine

Answer 13

• Physiological
  
  • Dilatation of peripheral blood vessels
  • Constriction of cerebral blood vessels >> good treat headaches
  • Bronchodilating effects (good for asthma)
  • Increase urination

Question 14

Behavioral effects

Answer 14

• Behavioral
  
  • Mental alertness
  • If the subject is bored or tired >> caffeine improves some performance
  • Lack of fatigue
  • Lack of sleep
  • Does not improve anyone who is drunk

Question 15

Health Benefits and Risks (and no risks)

Answer 15

• Benefits
  
  • For male (28 ounces/day): lower risk of Parkinsons disease
  • For women: lower risk of Parkinsons disease only at moderate doses >> Estrogen
  • For both: 2 cups a day reduces cirrhosis
• No risks
  
  • No cancer
  • No breast disease
• Risks
  
  • Increased risk of heart attack >> 6 cups a day
  • Osteoporosis >>
  • Pregnancy >>
    
    • 3 cups/day >> low birth weight
    • 6 cups/day >> miscarriage
  • Panic attacks >> 4-5 cups/day -> people with a history of panic attacks should avoid caffeinated drinks

Question 16

Dependence, Tolerance & LD

Answer 16

• Tolerance
  
  • the increased heart rate
  • Insomnia Jitteriness
  • Nervousness
• Withdrawal
  
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Muscle aches
  • Flu-like symptoms
• Craving
• Toxicity: LD-50 = 50-90 cups