What Is Caffeine?

Right now, caffeine seems like it has nothing to do with your sleep cycle. But it actually has a lot to do with it. Caffeine and adenosine have identical binding structures (show nitrogen rings) which means when you drink coffee, caffeine binds to those adenosine receptors and stays there. But because caffeine has no effect on your neurons it just stays there taking up space. Well, then what’s the problem? Because caffeine is taking up the receptors which are meant to bind with adenosine, adenosine

Caffeine is a huge component in pre-workout supplements, and is probably the one ingredient that is most controversial. Chemically, caffeine does promote alertness and focus, but the long-term effects and other side effects are what scare most people away from taking additional caffeine to what many people already take on a daily basis. When someone gets tired, it is because of a chemical called adenosine. Adenosine builds up in the brain whenever you are awake, and it binds to adenosine receptors on brain cells. The binding of adenosine causes drowsiness by slowing down nerve cell activity. To a nerve cell, caffeine looks just like adenosine, so caffeine is able to bind to the adenosine receptors in your brain. However, caffeine does not slow down the cell’s activity like adenosine would. The cell cannot “see” adenosine anymore because caffeine is taking up all the receptors adenosine binds to,

Every day, people all over the world begin their days with a cup of coffee, or some other form of caffeine to give them the energy “boost” that gets them going. In recent years, caffeine is becoming more common and easier to consume with the abundance of energy drinks on the market. This use of caffeine is widely known and taken advantage of, however, caffeine can have some other important effects on our brains as well, including being used in medicines that need to be sent to the brain. Caffeine also has the ability to provide a boosting benefit for the brain, both in the short term and the long term, by interacting with numerous chemical pathways, especially those involving adenosine, in the brain, typically by inhibitory effects.

Your brain can adapt to regular consumption of caffeine. If your adenosine receptors are perpetually clogged, your body will manufacture extra ones. That way, even with caffeine around, adenosine can still do its job of signaling the brain to power down. That’s why you may find you need to consume more and more caffeine to feel as alert: there are more and more adenosine receptors to block. It’s also why, if you suddenly quit caffeine, you may experience an unpleasant withdrawal. With plenty of receptors and no competition, adenosine can work overtime, causing symptoms like headaches, tiredness, and depression.

“Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that produces its primary effects via antagonism of the A1 and A2 adenosine receptor subtypes” (Butler, 2009). Effects of chronic ethanol exposure and withdrawal on the brain are heterogeneous and continue to be accepted that it can alter function, and destiny of receptor proteins. These changes can make you vulnerable to different behaviors and seizures, and alcohol craving in humans. There has been speculation of whether there was a sex difference in the neurotoxicity produced by different receptors during ethanol withdrawal. The current studies were made to find the effect of non-specific adenosine receptor antagonism with caffeine in male and female rats (Butler, 2009).

Lastly, Caffeine has a long history of use and can be found in many common foods, drinks, and medications. Although caffeine has been the subject of pharmacological studies for several decades, the mechanism of action of its effects on the central nervous system have only recently been defined as a blockade of adenosine receptors (Choi et al., 1988; Fredholm, 1985; Snyder, 1984). Extensive reviews of caffeine (Dews, 1984; Weiss and Laties, 1962) conclude that its stimulant properties are weak in comparison with those of other drugs (e.g., amphetamine) and that its effects are modest, making detection of these effects difficult and generalizations cumbersome. Dews (1984), however, states that the following three effects are clear: (1) it has the tendency to postpone sleep; (2) it reduces the degradation of performance because of fatigue and boredom; and (3) it decreases hand steadiness. The interpretation distilled from these and other reviews is that caffeine's effects are significant primarily when performance of repetitive, nonintellectual tasks is partially degraded.

Caffeine is an ‘alkaloid’ (Farlex, 2003) and according to Spriet, 2014, is commonly used ‘work enhancing supplement’ which has been researched thoroughly since the 1970’s, due to caffeine’s potential to improve performance through its ergogenic effect. Caffeine’s ergogenic effect targets the CNS, as caffeine is a ‘adenosine antagonist’ (Davis et al., 2002; McCall, Millington, Wurtman,. 1982) Caffeine has a very similar structure adenosine (Fredholm, B, B et.al., 1999) which enables the caffeine to pass through the blood brain barrier (McCall, A.L., Millington, W.R. and Wurtman, R.J. 1982) and block the adenosine receptors and therefore delays the onset of fatigue (Graham, 2001) and create a greater sense of wakefulness and alertness while also improving reaction time. This is achieved throught the blocking of the adenosine receptors

The mechanism of caffeine involves the inhibition of enzyme phosphodiesterase, which degrades cyclic AMP and this is permitted due to caffeine’s structural similarities with adenosine. The caffeine molecules bind to the adenosine receptors in brain cells and block adenosine from binding. Adenosine plays a role in the sleep-wake cycle. When adenosine binds to enough receptors, it signals the brain that it is time for rest or sleep. Caffeine does not replace the need for sleep, but prevents drowsiness or sedation symptoms that adenosine causes. Since caffeine blocks the degradation process of cyclic AMP, caffeine indirectly affects regulation of cAMP-dependent protein kinases, which are responsible for the regulation of glycogen, sugars and

Due to its lipophilicity, caffeine crosses the blood brain barrier easily exerting its stimulant effect (McCall et al., 1982). Caffeine exerts its activity on the central nervous system (CNS) by counteracting most of the inhibitory effects of adenosine on neuroexcitability (Fredholm et al., 1999), arousal (Porkka-Heiskanen, 1999), and spontaneous activity (Barraco et al., 1983). Also, Caffeine can alter CNS function by inhibiting phosphodiesterase activity, blocking GABAA receptors, and mobilizing intracellular calcium (Garrett and Griffiths, 1997). Caffeine stimulates the release of various neurotransmitters in CNS: acetylcholine, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin (El Yacoubi et al. 2003; El Yacoubi et al. 2001;

Caffeine is the like a psychoactive drug that manipulates the humans’ brain cells to be more active with adrenaline.

Caffeine is a huge part of North American culture, it is consumed in coffee, teas, chocolate, energy drinks and many other goods. Coffee is the main source of caffeine, and is frequently consumed socially. Because people rely on this substance so heavily, its side effects are often speculated. People who tend to consume large amounts of caffeine notice shakiness, nervousness, irritability, and increased heart rate (Whiteman.) However, the positive effects are much greater, and some include decreased risk for oral and liver cancers, Parkinson’s, Alzheimers, stroke and much more. Thankfully, there is overwhelming evidence to support that caffeine is much more of a benefit in people’s lives than a detriment.

Caffeine is one of the most consumed substances in the world. The majority of people consume caffeine as part of their everyday lives. It helps us feel “alive” in the morning, by giving us the energy and focus that we need throughout the day. Caffeine has many benefits, some of which most people do not even know about. For a drug so commonly used, little attention is paid to the dangerous properties of caffeine products. Because caffeine is part of our everyday lives, it is important to know the benefits and dangers of consuming it.

The molecular formula for caffeine is C8H10N4O2 and it is chemically classified in the xanthine group.1 It was first discovered and isolated by Friedrich Ferdinand Runge, a German chemist in 1819. Once this element is isolated and purified, it is bitter white powder. This purified caffeine is added to drinks such as soft drinks, colas and energy drinks. Caffeine is found in many different plants such as coffee beans, cacao beans and tea where it paralyses and kills bugs that pursue the plants, acting as a natural pesticide. Caffeine has many effects on the body; including a short burst of energy, acting in a similar way to the hormone adrenaline and surprisingly, cocaine.6 Although it has some good effects, negative effects can occur from excessive intake.

Structurally, caffeine closely resembles a molecule that’s naturally present in our brain, called adenosine (which is a byproduct of many cellular processes, including cellular respiration)—so much so, in fact, that caffeine can fit neatly into our brain cells’ receptors for adenosine, effectively blocking them off. Normally, the adenosine produced over time locks into these receptors and produces a feeling of tiredness (Stromberg, 2013).

is derived from a bean or from tea leaves and can be found in the