Anna Balawejder-Biśto, Alina Pyka-Pająk

Caffeine - a substance well known or still researched
2022-10-27

Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is a psychostimulant that acts as an adenosine receptor antagonist. It is a naturally occurring central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the methylxanthine class that can be isolated from more than sixty plants, but can also be produced synthetically and added to our daily foods and medicines. Depending on the plant in which it occurs, it is referred to by a different name, such as guaranine (when it comes from guarana seeds), matein (when it comes from yerba mate), and theine (when it comes from tea leaves). It is considered the most often used psychoactive drug in the world. It is used in the preparation of daily beverages to refresh and offset symptoms of mental and physical fatigue, which are commonly used around the world in the form of coffee, tea or chocolate. There are also many medications containing caffeine, and the substance is also added to carbonated drinks (Pepsi, Coca-Cola) and energy drinks. After oral administration, caffeine is quickly and completely (i.e.99%) absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. After absorption from the gastrointestinal tract (especially the small intestine), caffeine is distributed throughout the body. It penetrates all tissues through cell membranes and enters the water space of tissues. Caffeine is practically completely biotransformed in the liver, only 2% of the ingested dose is excreted unchanged in the urine. Caffeine metabolism is affected by many exogenous and endogenous factors, such as genetics, age, gender, pregnancy, diet, lifestyle, smoking, environmental factors, drugs and diseases. Caffeine is removed from the body mainly by the kidneys. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved caffeine for use in the treatment of apnea and the prevention and treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants. Caffeine modifies the effects of some medications. Caffeine has a wide range of effects on the body, both positive and negative, that may partially affect the variability of caffeine consumption between individuals.

Keywords: occurrence, drug, caffeine, application, property.

© Farm Pol, 2022, 78 (8): 430–441