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

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.,

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,