Caffeine

Caffeine, caffeine or Tein is a xanthine alkaloid with a stimulating, psychoactive effect. Caffeine has a stimulating effect on humans. The pure white, odorless powder was extracted from coffee beans for the first time in 1820 and has a bitter taste. Caffeine occurs naturally in different plants and there in different parts of plants. It acts as a natural pesticide as it paralyzes or even kills certain pests that eat the plant. Caffeine is found in certain foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, guarana, maté or cocoa. Pure caffeine can be extracted from plants or produced synthetically for further use.

Medical effect & application

Caffeine is found in certain foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, guarana, maté or cocoa. Pure caffeine can be extracted from plants or produced synthetically for further use.

Caffeine is probably the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world. It has a stimulating effect on the metabolism and the central nervous system. Its effect on the body is complex and leads to increased alertness, concentration, body coordination and liveliness. In addition, the mood is brightened.

Caffeine from beverages is absorbed after 45 minutes with a concentration peak in the blood after an hour. In addition, caffeine can be taken as a tablet or suppository. In healthy adults and without further medication, half of the caffeine has been broken down by the liver after about five hours.

Caffeine easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and therefore has a direct effect on the brain and nervous system. In moderate doses, for example two cups of coffee a day, caffeine has some positive effects on the body.

A study from 2010 shows that shift workers who consume caffeine make fewer mistakes and suffer fewer injuries. In newborns, caffeine is used to treat apnea, lung problems and irregular heartbeats. Caffeine has a relaxing effect on the anal muscles and thus facilitates bowel movements, but should be avoided in the event of incontinence.

Since caffeine reactivates hair follicles in laboratory tests, there are now hair growth shampoos with caffeine. At least the absorption of the caffeine from shampoo has been proven. It has not yet been proven whether the natural hair growth is actually stronger. Caffeine also strengthens the effect of certain painkillers and is therefore part of some pain pills and antihistamine preparations, where it reduces the annoying side effect of fatigue.

It has also been observed that caffeine has a liver-protecting effect in risk groups. However, the underlying mechanism has not yet been researched.

Long-term, excessive caffeine consumption can have unpleasant consequences such as nervousness, muscle tremors, anxiety disorders or insomnia and lead to dependence. The lethal dose of caffeine in rats is around 200 mg per kilogram of body weight.

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Significance for sport & training

Caffeine is also used in sport after numerous studies have shown that the substance has an endurance-promoting effect. The University of Illinois was also able to show that caffeine had a slight pain reliever effect.

The form in which the substance is administered does not matter. Amounts of three to six milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight are used. With higher quantities, no further increase in output is achieved. If you want to use caffeine specifically for training or competitions, you should avoid caffeine a few days in advance, as the body gets used to the effect of the stimulant.

But there are also statements that caffeine does not improve athletic performance, but even inhibits it. A study by the University Clinic in Zurich indicates lower blood flow through the heart when caffeine is consumed during endurance sports and advises people with cardiovascular problems against using caffeine during exercise.