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Caffeine consumption among adults on benzodiazepine therapy: United States 1988-1994.

The concomitant use of benzodiazepines and caffeine was studied to learn if caffeine consumption varied as a function of benzodiazepine use. Caffeine may antagonize the effects of benzodiazepine and even relatively small amounts can aggravate symptoms associated with anxiety disorders. In addition, caffeine can cause or aggravate insomnia, one of the main reasons cited for use by the subjects in this analysis. Given this, there would seem to be sufficient reason for at least some users of benzodiazepines to consider, with their physicians, avoiding or limiting caffeine consumption. Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed to obtain a nationally representative sample of benzodiazepine users. Subjects included 253 individuals (64% women) whose median age was 54 yr. Approximately 88% of benzodiazepine users reported caffeine consumption in the 24-hr. Dietary Recall. 26% of benzodiazepine users and 23% of nonusers reported consuming greater than 250 mg of caffeine during the 24-hr. reference period. In regression analyses, no significant relationships were found between reported caffeine consumption and benzodiazepine use. This study suggests that users and nonusers of benzodiazepines ingest similar amounts of caffeine even though some users should probably avoid or limit caffeine use.

Aged↗

A safety assessment of fixed combinations of acetaminophen and acetylsalicylic acid, coformulated with caffeine.

Overuse and abuse of phenacetin-containing mixed analgesics has contributed to end-stage renal disease. Combination analgesics, especially those coformulated with caffeine, have been implicated as imparting a greater risk of analgesic-associated nephropathy (AAN) than single or coformulated analgesics without caffeine. This has led to a recommendation that the sale of "two plus caffeine" analgesic mixtures be reclassified from over-the-counter to prescription only availability. There is a rational basis for coformulating acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and acetaminophen (paracetamol) as this reduces the dose of each, without altering efficacy. The coformulation of caffeine with these analgesics has a significant adjuvant effect and increases analgesic efficacy 1.4-1.6-fold. Currently available animal and human data do not support the notion that the nephrotoxic risk from coformulated ASA and acetaminophen is higher than the risk from either ASA or acetaminophen alone, in equivalent analgesic doses. There are no epidemiological data that implicate caffeine in AAN, and only limited evidence that links excessive acetaminophen usage to renal disease. There is no evidence that caffeine increases analgesics papillotoxicity directly. The presence of caffeine in mixtures of analgesics are no more addictive than other sources of caffeine. There is no evidence to suggest that adding caffeine to analgesic mixtures enhances the potential for promoting analgesic misuse in the general population. Thus distinct therapeutic benefits of ASA, acetaminophen and caffeine appear to outweigh any known risk. It is doubtful if preventing the availability of these products will significantly affect the role of analgesic abuse/overuse in end-stage renal disease. Better risk management would come from a focused educational program, developed in a close collaboration between industry, healthcare professionals and consumer organizations, such a program must warn against the potential dangers of analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug misuse.

Acetaminophen↗

Effects of caffeine at different temperatures on contractile properties of slow-twitch and fast-twitch rat muscles.

The slow-twitch soleus muscle (SOL) exhibits decreased twitch tension (cold depression) in response to a decreased temperature, whereas the fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle shows enhanced twitch tension (cold potentiation). On the other hand, the slow-twitch SOL muscle is more sensitive to twitch potentiation and contractures evoked by caffeine than the fast-twitch EDL muscle. In order to reveal the effects of these counteracting conditions (temperature and caffeine), we have studied the combined effects of temperature changes on the potentiation effects of caffeine in modulating muscle contractions and contractures in both muscles. Isolated muscles, bathed in a Tyrode solution containing 0.1-60 mM caffeine, were stimulated directly and isometric single twitches, fused tetanic contractions and contractures were recorded at 35 degrees C and 20 degrees C. Our results showed that twitches and tetani of both SOL and EDL were potentiated and prolonged in the presence of 0.3-10 mM caffeine. Despite the cold depression, the extent of potentiation of the twitch tension by caffeine in the SOL muscle at 20 degrees C was by 10-15 % higher than that at 35 degrees C, while no significant difference was noted in the EDL muscle between both temperatures. Since the increase of twitch tension was significantly higher than potentiation of tetani in both muscles, the twitch-tetanus ratio was enhanced. Higher concentrations of caffeine induced contractures in both muscles; the contracture threshold was, however, lower in the SOL than in the EDL muscle at both temperatures. Furthermore, the maximal tension was achieved at lower caffeine concentrations in the SOL muscle at both 35 degrees C and 20 degrees C compared to the EDL muscle. These effects of caffeine were rapidly and completely reversed in both muscles when the test solution was replaced by the Tyrode solution. The results have indicated that the potentiation effect of caffeine is both time- and temperature-dependent process that is more pronounced in the slow-twitch SOL than in the fast-twitch EDL muscles.

Animals↗

Caffeine metabolism in a group of 67 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the polygenic regulated caffeine metabolism in a group of 67 patients with a documented primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) classified according to the histologic stage proposed by Scheuer. METHODS: Over a 14-year period, drug liver metabolism, using caffeine as a probe drug, has been systematically carried out in addition to the usual clinical, histological and biochemical investigations performed in patients with PBC. The "Caffeine test" consisted of a 200 mg caffeine oral intake. Urines were collected over 24 hours: caffeine (137X), 1-7-dimethylxanthine (17X), 1-3-dimethylxanthine (13X), 1-3-dimethylurate (13U), 3-7-dimethylxanthine (37X), 1-7-dimethylurate (17U), 1-methylxanthine (1X), 1-methylurate (1U), 7-methylxanthine (7X), 3-methylxanthine (3X), and 5-acetylamino-6-formylamino-3-methyluracyl (AFMU) were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Total and individual metabolite urinary elimination rates were expressed in micromol/24 hours. Enzyme activities were evaluated from the following urinary metabolite ratios: (AFMU+1U+1X)/17U for CYP1A2, 17U/17X for CYP2A6, AFMU/(AFMU+U+ 1X) for NAT-2, 1U/1X for XO. RESULTS: Compared to healthy subjects, patients with PBC presented a reduced metabolism of caffeine due to a decreased CYP1A2 activity, all the more important since the patients had an advanced histological stage. This picture was nearly identical to the observed picture in chronic liver diseases from various origins. PBC affected the various metabolic pathways of caffeine in a differential manner. CYP1A2 activity was decreased but XO and mainly CYP2A6 activities were increased as shown by the raised urinary ratio 17U/total metabolite elimination. In contrast to the described loss of bimodality of the NAT-2 index distribution in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, we found a clear-cut, bimodal distribution in patients with PBC, without a high incidence of slow acetylator status. CONCLUSION: Metabolism of caffeine is strongly and differentially disturbed in patients with PBC and apparently not exactly in the same way as that in alcoholic cirrhosis which is more often taken as an index of chronic liver disease. This suggests the need for caution with medicines whose metabolism is under polygenic regulation. Because of the relationships between caffeine metabolism modifications and histological stages, the caffeine test might be used along with the usual tests to safely follow-up the evolution of the disease.

Administration, Oral↗

Effect of caffeine on the recognition of and responses to hypoglycemia in humans.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether two effects of acute caffeine ingestion--decrease in cerebral blood flow and increase in brain glucose use--alter the recognition of and physiologic responses to hypoglycemia. DESIGN: On two occasions, a hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp technique (2 mU/kg body weight per minute) was used to maintain plasma glucose at 5 mmol/L for 90 minutes, followed by 60 minutes at 3.8 mmol/L, and then 2.8 mmol/L. After 30 minutes at 5 mmol/L, participants consumed, using a randomized, double-blind design, caffeine-free cola with or without caffeine (400 mg) added. SETTING: Yale Clinical Research Center. PARTICIPANTS: Eight healthy, nonobese volunteers (5 men; age range, 20 to 33 years). MEASUREMENTS: Middle cerebral artery velocity (V MCA), counter-regulatory hormone levels, hypoglycemic symptoms, and cognitive function (P300 evoked potentials). RESULTS: Caffeine caused an immediate and sustained 23% decrease in VMCA from 64 to 49 cm/s (point estimate of difference, +15 cm/s [95% CI, 10 to 21 cm/s], P < 0.001). At a glucose level of 3.8 mmol/L, only the participants given caffeine had warning symptoms and "felt hypoglycemic." Moreover, the level of epinephrine was 118% ([CI of point difference, 76% to 158%] [CI, P < 0.001]) higher after caffeine consumption compared with placebo. Similarly, levels of norepinephrine (41% [CI, 26% to 60%], P < 0.002), cortisol (65% [CI, 26% to 78%], P < 0.008), and growth hormone (60% [CI, 16% to 143%], P < 0.05) were higher after caffeine consumption compared with placebo. At 2.8 mmol/L, epinephrine (40% [point estimate of the percentage difference], P < 0.05), norepinephrine (27%, P < 0.05), and cortisol (24%, P < 0.05) levels were higher, participants were more aware (P < 0.02) of hypoglycemia, and P300 latency was prolonged in the group that consumed caffeine (7.2%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Acute ingestion of caffeine is associated with sympathoadrenal activation and awareness of hypoglycemia at a glucose level not usually considered hypoglycemic. Our data suggest that individuals who ingest moderate amounts of caffeine may develop hypoglycemic symptoms if plasma glucose levels fall into the "low-normal" range, as might occur in the late postprandial period after ingestion of a large carbohydrate load.

Adult↗

Bisprasin, a novel Ca(2+) releaser with caffeine-like properties from a marine sponge, Dysidea spp., acts on Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release channels of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Bisprasin, a unique bromotyrosine derivative containing a disulfide linkage, was isolated from a marine sponge of Dysidea spp. This compound caused a concentration-dependent (from 10 to 30 microM) increase in the (45)Ca(2+) release from the heavy fraction of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (HSR) of rabbit skeletal muscle in the same way as does caffeine. The 50% effective concentrations of bisprasin and caffeine were approximately 18 microM and 1.2 mM, respectively, indicating that the (45)Ca(2+)-releasing activity of bisprasin was approximately 70 times more potent than that of caffeine in HSR. The bell-shaped profile of Ca(2+) dependence for bisprasin was almost the same as that for caffeine. Typical blockers of Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release channels, such as Mg(2+), procaine, and ruthenium red, inhibited markedly bisprasin- and caffeine-induced (45)Ca(2+) release from HSR. This compound, like caffeine, significantly enhanced [(3)H]ryanodine binding to HSR. Scatchard analysis of [(3)H]ryanodine binding to HSR revealed that bisprasin and caffeine decreased the K(D) value without affecting the B(max) value, suggesting that both the drugs facilitate the opening of ryanodine receptor channels. The bisprasin- and caffeine-induced increases in [(3)H]ryanodine binding were further enhanced by adenosine-5'-(beta, gamma-methylene)triphosphate. These results suggest that the pharmacological properties of bisprasin are almost similar to those of caffeine, except for its 70-fold higher potency. Here, we present the first report on the pharmacological properties of bisprasin, which, like caffeine, induces Ca(2+) release from skeletal muscle SR mediated through the ryanodine receptor.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Dietary caffeine consumption modulates fMRI measures.

Caffeine is the most widely used stimulant in the world. The stimulant effects of caffeine are mediated through its antagonistic properties on neuronal adenosine receptors. In addition, caffeine blocks neurovascular adenosine receptors and decreases cerebral perfusion. Although the effects of caffeine on blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging measures are extremely important, there are few studies addressing this issue in the literature. Because chronic caffeine use causes an upregulation of adenosine receptors, the differential effects of caffeine in low and high users is of particular interest. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that caffeine has differential effects on the BOLD signal in high and low caffeine users. We demonstrated that the BOLD signal change in visual cortex was significantly greater in high users than in low users in the presence of caffeine. In addition, the magnitude of the BOLD signal was significantly correlated with caffeine consumption. We propose that the outcome observed here was due to an upregulation of adenosine receptors in high users, resulting in differential contributions of the neural and vascular effects of adenosine in the two study populations.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Effect of caffeine on metabolism of L-arginine in the brain.

Methylxanthines are widely consumed because of their stimulating effect primarily on the central nervous system. Their diuretic and respiratory stimulant action is used in clinical medicine. L-Arginine metabolism in the brain is very important for normal brain function. In addition to brain protein synthesis, arginine is a substrate for the production of urea, creatine, nitric oxide, agmatine, glutamic acid, ornithine, proline and polyamines. As known, many of these compounds are very important in brain function. There is no information relating to effects of caffeine on arginine metabolism in the brain, however, there is a lot of new information about arginine metabolism and caffeine action on the central nervous system. So, we have hypothesized the existence of a relationship that may be of interest in understanding mechanisms of caffeine effects on the central nervous system that may have utility in the clinical applications. In our experiment protocol we used male Wistar rats weighing about 200 g. Caffeine was added to the drinking water in gradually increasing amounts, from 2 g/l over the first 3 days, to 4 g/l over the last 7 days. A control group was given drinking water without caffeine. The level of lipid peroxidation, arginase and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity in the brain was measured. The results of our study show that arginase and diamine oxidase were decreased in animals treated with caffeine. The level of lipid peroxidation (MDA) was decreased also. The inhibitory effect of caffeine on arginase activity indicates that caffeine provides more arginine for consumption in other metabolic pathways. Considering the central stimulant effects of caffeine and the decreased lipid peroxidation level, it can be assumed that moderate short-term consumption of caffeine may be beneficial for brain function.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

Induction of apoptosis by caffeine is mediated by the p53, Bax, and caspase 3 pathways.

Caffeine is a key component of many popular drinks, especially tea and coffee. Previous reports have shown that caffeine may contribute to the chemopreventive effect of tea in animals. Here, we report that treatment with low concentrations of caffeine induced apoptosis in JB6 Cl41 cells. JB6 Cl41 cells were starved in 0.1% fetal bovine serum/MEM for 72 h and then treated with 50-450 microM caffeine for 24 h. Cells showed the typical DNA laddering pattern and other characteristics of apoptosis. The IC(50) of caffeine on JB6 Cl41 cells was 2.7 mM. Induction of apoptosis by caffeine appeared to be p53-dependent because cells lacking p53 (p53(-/-)) showed no signs of apoptosis after treatment with caffeine. Immunoprecipitation assays and Western blot analysis showed that caffeine induced phosphorylation of p53 at Ser(15) in JB6 Cl41 cells. The same low concentration of caffeine that was effective for inducing phosphorylation of p53 was also shown to increase p53 activation. Expression of Bax, another p53 target, distinctly increased in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Cleaved caspase 3 was also increased in a time- and dose-dependent manner. These data show that a low concentration of caffeine can induce p53-dependent apoptosis in JB6 cells through the Bax and caspase 3 pathways.

Animals↗

Caffeine drug discrimination in humans: acquisition, specificity and correlation with self-reports.

This study evaluated the discriminative stimulus effects of caffeine in humans. Nine normal male and female volunteers (ages 18-28) were trained to discriminate between the methylxanthine central nervous system stimulant caffeine (320 mg/70 kg, p.o.) and placebo. Monetary reinforcers were earned for identifying correctly the letter code associated with each substance. After four training sessions, the ability to discriminate between the two training conditions was tested for 20 sessions (test-of-acquisition). In subjects who met the criterion for discrimination (i.e., greater than or equal to 85% correct responding on greater than or equal to 4 consecutive sessions during the last 10 test-of-acquisition sessions) dose-effect curves for caffeine (0, 56, 100, 180, 240 and 320 mg/70 kg) and for the benzodiazepine triazolam (0, 0.10, 0.32 and 0.56 mg/70 kg) were determined. Seven of the nine subjects learned the caffeine-placebo discrimination and their performance improved across the 20 test-of-acquisition sessions. The training dose of caffeine (320 mg/70 kg) produced stimulant-like self-reports that differed from placebo when the letter codes were identified correctly, but not when the letter codes were identified incorrectly. Novel caffeine doses produced dose-related increases in caffeine-appropriate responding (N = 4), whereas triazolam produced predominantly placebo-appropriate responding (N = 3) and self-reports that differed from both caffeine and placebo. Throughout dose-effect curve determinations, the training dose of caffeine and placebo continued to be identified correctly (range: 84-100% correct responding). These results suggest that a caffeine (320 mg/70 kg)-placebo discrimination 1) can be acquired and maintained, 2) is related to self-reported drug effects if the training conditions are correctly identified and 3) has some pharmacological specificity.

Adult↗

Caffeine consumption among medical students.

Recently, caffeine consumption in Japan is thought to have increased. Although caffeine had been considered to be harmless, there have been studies which suggests an association between caffeine and health and give rise to vigorous discussion. However, in Japan, there have been few epidemiological studies on caffeine consumption among a general population. A questionnaire survey was conducted among medical students and the results were as follows: 1) High dose users (estimated daily caffeine use is 250 mg or more) were observed in 15.2% and the proportion was higher in males than in females. 2) The respondents gave sleepiness, dry mouth and so on, as reasons for taking caffeine beverages, and gave, as the effects of caffeine, becoming clear-headed, shaking off sleepiness, and epigastric discomfort or pain. 3) A third of respondents have experienced taking caffeine tablets and ampules to shake off sleepiness and, in males, the more caffeine they had daily, the more who reported the experience. 4) Caffeine consumption has an association with alcohol use and smoking habit among males.

Adult↗

[Biphasic effects of caffeine on tension in isolated aorta of rat].

The dual effects of caffeine on the tension were observed in rat thoracic aorta. When the preparation was exposed to Tyrode's solution containing caffeine of 1, 5 and 10 mmol/L, the tension increased. In 1-2 min it slowly decreased to a level lower than the pre-caffeine tension. After norepinephrine (1 mumol/L) was added, caffeine produced a greater inhibitory effect and the contraction phase disappeared. The dual effects of caffeine were not affected by the vascular endothelium. In the Tyrode's solution containing NiCl2 2 mmol/L, the first addition of caffeine (10 mmol/L) or norepinephrine (0.1 mumol/L) caused a contraction. The one caused by norepinephrine was greater. A second addition of caffeine did not cause a contraction, but addition of norepinephrine at this time caused a small contraction. After the washout of norepinephrine which had caused a greater contraction, the addition of caffeine (10 mmol/L) did not cause a contraction. These results indicate that norepinephrine completely depletes caffeine-sensitive Ca2 stores but caffeine only partially depletes norepinephrine-sensitive Ca2+ stores.

Animals↗

Noncompetitive antagonism of adenosine by caffeine on the hepatic and superior mesenteric arteries of anesthetized cats.

Caffeine (3-93 mg/kg iv.) did not alter systemic blood pressure, central venous or portal venous pressure or blood flow or vascular conductance in the hepatic artery (HA) or superior mesenteric artery (SMA) of cats anesthetized with pentobarbital or chloralose. Caffeine did not antagonize the physiological response (adenosine-mediated dilation) of the HA induced by reduced portal flow but did produce a noncompetitive antagonism of the vasodilation induced by exogenous adenosine. Pharmacodynamic data for the HA and SMA indicated that the maximum response calculated (Rmax) of adenosine was suppressed but the dose producing half Rmax was unaltered by caffeine. Although the Rmax for adenosine-induced dilation of the HA was suppressed in a dose-dependent manner, the Rmax for caffeine's effect was only 60%, thus indicating that about 40% of the dilator effect of adenosine could not be suppressed at any dose of caffeine. The dilator response to isoproterenol was unaffected by caffeine. The observation that 40% of the dilator effect of adenosine was also not suppressible by caffeine suggests that adenosine causes dilation by two different mechanisms, one of which (perhaps cyclic AMP-dependent) is not affected by caffeine. To produce a 50% inhibition of the HA Rmax for adenosine, a dose of 33 mg/kg of caffeine was required (53 mg/kg in the SMA); doses of 93 mg/kg consistently produced cardiac arrhythmias. It is thus unlikely that even very heavy caffeine consumption would lead to altered hepatic blood flow or altered regulation of adenosine-mediated vascular responses.

Adenosine↗

Discriminative stimulus properties of caffeine in the rat: noradrenergic mediation.

The stimulus properties of caffeine were studied in separate groups of rats trained to discriminate between i.p. injections of saline and either 10 or 30 mg/kg of caffeine in a discrete-trial avoidance paradigm. Stimulus control of behavior (i.e., reliable completion of at least 18 of 20 trials on the appropriate choice lever after injection of saline or caffeine) was established in an average of 50 to 52 sessions. Novel drugs were tested over a range of doses for generalization to one (10 mg/kg) or both doses of caffeine. The methylxanthine derivatives, theophylline, theobromine, 1,7-dimethylxanthine, 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine, 8-phenyltheophylline and 8-chlorotheophylline, were generalized to caffeine partially or not at all. Of the nonxanthine drugs, apomorphine, clonidine and picrotoxin occasioned responding only on the saline-appropriate choice lever, d-amphetamine and ephedrine generalized partially, and cocaine and methylphenidate generalized with caffeine completely, as did 2-(2-chloro-5-trifluoromethylphenylimino)imidazolidine an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist. The discriminative effects of 10 mg/kg of caffeine were blocked dose-dependently and completely by alpha adrenergic receptor blocking drugs (phentolamine, prazosin and yohimbine) and were blocked partially by propranolol and by drugs having behavioral depressant properties (diazepam, pentobarbital and the adenosine analogs, R-(-)-N6-(2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine, cyclohexyladenosine, 2-chloroadenosine). The blockade by phentolamine could be surmounted by increasing the dose of caffeine, the partial blockade by diazepam and 2-chloroadenosine could not. Alpha adrenergic receptor blocking drugs also antagonized the caffeine-like discriminative effects of methylphenidate and 2-(2-chloro-5-trifluoromethylphenylimino)imidazolidine. The discriminative stimulus effects of caffeine in the rat appear to be mediated in part by alpha adrenergic mechanisms.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Relationship of plasma and brain concentrations of caffeine and metabolites to benzodiazepine receptor binding and locomotor activity.

CD-1 mice were treated with caffeine-sodium benzoate solution (caffeine doses: 0, 5, 15 or 30 mg/kg i.p.) to determine plasma and brain concentrations, effects on benzodiazepine receptor binding based on specific uptake of a high affinity ligand, and locomotor activity. There was a linear relationship between caffeine dose and mean brain or plasma concentrations, but concentrations varied considerably at any given dose. There were also linear relationships between plasma and brain concentrations of caffeine and each metabolite, with caffeine itself having the greatest brain:plasma uptake ratio. Benzodiazepine receptor binding was determined based on uptake of the benzodiazepine receptor ligand [3H]Ro15-1788, 3 microCi i.v. given 40 min after caffeine (30 mg/kg). Nonspecific binding was measured in animals pretreated with saturating doses of clonazepam. Specific uptake (measured by subtracting nonspecific from total [3H] Ro15-1788 uptake) increased significantly with caffeine as opposed to vehicle treatment in the cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus. Brain caffeine concentrations associated with enhanced uptake were between 11 to 17 micrograms/g. Total locomotor activity and activity at 60 min, measured by an infrared sensor system, increased progressively with brain caffeine concentrations when comparing the following groups: 0, 2 to 9 micrograms/g of brain and 9 to 20 micrograms/g. Animals with brain concentrations exceeding 20 micrograms/g showed a decline in both measures but activity was significantly greater than placebo. In conclusion, brain caffeine concentrations between 9 to 20 micrograms/g are associated with increases in specific ligand uptake and motor activity.

Adenosine↗

Neuroendocrine effects of caffeine. II. Effects on thyrotropin and corticosterone secretion.

Caffeine injected i.p. to rats decreased serum thyrotropin and markedly increased serum corticosterone with ED50 values of 40 to 50 mg/kg. Adrenalectomy did not affect the response of thyrotropin to caffeine. Theophylline was as potent as caffeine in inhibiting thyrotropin and stimulating corticosterone secretion; theobromine and paraxanthine were less potent, but their own serum concentrations were also lower. One week of once-daily injections of 50 mg/kg of caffeine produced tolerance to its effects on thyrotropin and corticosterone. The lowest caffeine dose to produce tolerance to a 50-mg/kg challenge dose was 25 mg/kg. Adenosine receptor agonists did not affect serum thyrotropin nor did they block the caffeine-induced decrease in serum thyrotropin. Blockade of the hypothermic effect of caffeine did not alter the effect of caffeine on serum thyrotropin. Similarly, the caffeine-induced decrease in serum thyrotropin was additive to the decrease produced by placing rats in a warm environment or to the increase in serum thyrotropin produced by placing them in the cold. Deviating from the stress-like pattern of increased corticosterone and decreased thyrotropin, caffeine did not affect prolactin secretion in ovariectomized rats with or without estrogen pretreatment.

Adrenalectomy↗

Inhibiting effect of caffeine on spontaneous and urethan-induced lung tumors in strain A mice.

The i.p. injection of caffeine (8, 20, and 40 mg/kg) 3 times weekly for 8 weeks suppressed the development of spontaneous pulmonary adenomas in strain A mice. The same caffeine injection scheme suppressed urethan (0.25 and 1.0 mg/g)-induced lung tumor development when caffeine treatment started 1 week before urethan administration, but this suppression was not significant when caffeine treatment was initiated 1 week after urethan injection. The most pronounced suppression of lung tumor formation occurred when caffeine was given as only two injections 3 hr before and 3 hr after urethan administration. The incorporation of [3H]thymidine into lung tissue DNA of caffeine-treated mice was impaired at the time of urethan administration. Also, caffeine partially antagonized the effects of urethan on lung tissue, as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation studies. One interpretation of these results is that caffeine-induced suppression of DNA synthesis interferes with pulmonary adenoma induction by decreasing the affinity of lung tissue DNA for urethan. The finding that chronic caffeine treatment produced continued suppression of [3H]thymidine incorporation into lung tissue DNA suggests that caffeine-induced inhibition of spontaneous pulmonary adenoma formation is due to a general suppression of lung DNA-synthetic activity.

Adenoma↗

Effects of caffeine and coffee on fluid transport in the small intestine.

Although caffeine is known to stimulate small intestinal water secretion in man, no available studies have examined the effect of coffee on small intestinal fluid transport. We have studied the effect of both coffee and caffeine on jejunal sodium and water transport by the triple lumen intestinal perfusion technique. Both caffeine and coffee solutions had equivalent caffeine concentrations, approximating the caffeine concentration in one cup of coffee. Control and coffee perfusion resulted in net absorption of 0.9 +/- 0.2 and 1.1 +/- 0.3 ml per min per 30 cm, respectively, whereas caffeine perfusion resulted in net water secretion of 2.4 +/- 0.4 ml per min per 30 cm (P less than 0.02). Net sodium absorption was observed with control and coffee solutions with a mean absorption of 190 +/- 32 and 184 +/- 40 muEq per min per 30 cm, respectively. Net sodium secretion of 334 +/- 25 muEq er min per 30 cm was observed during caffeine perfusion (P less than 0.02). We conclude that coffee perfusion has no significant effect on sodium and water transport in the jejunum in spite of the marked secretory effects of caffeine solutions. The results of this study yield further support to the suggestion that the effects of caffeine may not be similar to the effects of caffeine-containing compounds such as coffee.

Adult↗