A Small Dose of Caffeine

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References / Additional Information (updated 6/30/05)

CAFFEINE DOSSIER
Name: Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine)
Use: most widely used stimulant in the world
Source: coffee, tea, cola & soda beverages, chocolate
Recommended daily intake: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised pregnant women to "avoid caffeine-containing foods and drugs, if possible, or consume them only sparingly."
Absorption: rapid following oral consumption
Sensitive individuals: fetus, children, some adults
Toxicity/symptoms: high dose - agitation, tremors; withdrawal - headache
Regulatory facts: GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe)
General facts: long history of use
Related xanthines - Theobromine - 3,7-dimethylxanthine & Theophylline - 1,3-dimethylxanthine
Environmental: contaminates sewage discharge
Recommendations: be thoughtful about consumption

REFERENCES / ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

European, Asian, and International Agencies

• International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation. (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  IFIC's mission is to communicate science-based information on food safety and nutrition to health and nutrition professionals, educators, journalists, government officials and others providing information to consumers. IFIC is supported primarily by the broad-based food, beverage and agricultural industries.
• England - Department of Health - Committee on toxicity of chemicals in food consumer products and the environment - Statement on the reproductive effects of caffeine. (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  Excellent report on the reproductive effects of caffeine.
  

North American Agencies

• Health Canada - Fact Sheet - Caffeine and Your Health. (accessed: 19 August 2004) -- Recommendations on consumption and sources of caffeine.
• U.S. MEDLINEplus Health Information. (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  Medline has multiple references on caffeine, including a number of useful web based links.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - Perplexities Of Pregnancy. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  This FDA document provided information on caffeine during pregnancy and advises "pregnant women to eliminate caffeine from their diets".
• U.S. Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction. (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  The U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) have established the NTP Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction in 1998. The Center provides scientifically based, uniform assessments of the potential for adverse effects on reproduction and development caused by agents to which humans may be exposed.

Non-Government Organizations

• Center for Science in the Public Interest - Nutrition Action. (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  Article on caffeine and its health effects.
• March of Dimes - Caffeine in Pregnancy Fact Sheet. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  March of Dimes has a number of fact sheets including this one on caffeine.
• I Need Coffee: Non-commercial Caffeination Information. (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  A humors but factual look at coffee consumption.
• In Pursuit of Tea. (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  Company web site dedicated to "Exploring remote regions of the world to supply the finest True Teas".
• Caffeine - The Vaults of Erowid. (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  The Erowid web site has a wide range of information on caffeine.

References

Nawrot, P., Jordan, S., Eastwood, J., Rotstein, J., Hugenholtz, A., & Feeley, M. (2003). Effects of caffeine on human health. Food Addit Contam, 20(1), 1-30.

Caffeine and Pregnancy. Organization of Teratology Information Services (OTIS). (accessed: 5 April 2003).

The World of Caffeine - The Science and Culture of the World's Most Popular Drug. By: Bennett Alan Weinberg and Bonnie K. Bealer. Routledge, New York and London 2001.

Caffeine & Health. By Jack E. James. Academic Press - Harcourt Brace Jovanovish, Publishers. New York, 1991.