Transcript How Caffeine is Processed by the Body

How Caffeine is Processed by the
Body
Where Found
• Caffeine occurs naturally
in the leaves, seeds and
fruits of many plant
species.
• Caffeine is common in
foods such as coffee, soft
drinks, teas, chocolate,
and in over-the-counter. It
is also an ingredient in
pain reliving medications.
Typical Doses of Caffeine
• People’s Physiology
are different.
• A safe level of
caffeine consumption
for a health adult is
around 300 milligrams
per day.
• Typical drip coffee contains 100
mg per 6-ounce cup.
• Tea contains 70 mg per 6ounce cup.
• Colas (coke, Pepsi, mountain
dew, etc.) Contain 50 mg per
12-ounce can.
• Chocolate contains 6 mg per
ounce.
• Pain reliving medications:
Anacin 32mg
Excedrin 65mg
Caffeine Transmission
• Caffeine is almost always taken by mouth so it is
absorbed quickly and completely into the blood
stream.
• Within minutes after consumption the blood
stream carries caffeine to all of the bodies organs
and to almost to every cell in the body.
• Peak blood plasma levels of caffeine are reached
within about 30 minutes after ingesting coffee and
an hour after ingesting soft drinks
Half-Life
Half-Life is the amount of time it takes for one-half
of an drug to be processed through the Body.
• Caffeine’s Half-Life is About 6 hours.
• That means that if you consume a cup of coffee
with 200 mg of caffeine in it at 3:00 PM, by 9:00
PM about 100 mg of that caffeine is still in your
system.
Physiological Adaptations
• Dilates systemic blood vessels, but
constricts blood vessels inside the brain.
&
• Caffeine is a Cardiac Muscle Stimulate &
a Smooth Muscle Relaxant
Adenosine in the Brain
• in the brain neurons
are transmitting
electrical energy.
• when activity is too
high adenosine
molecules stop the
neuron cells from
firing.
• Caffeine blocks adenosine
receptors with its own
molecule preventing the
adenosine molecule from
binding.
• brain activity remains at
its excited state and can
even increase in activity
because adenosine is
unable to slow it down.
http://www.esb.utexas.edu/palmer/bio303/group14/improper.htm
Caffeine and Adrenaline
• The pituitary gland
recognizes all of the
neural activity and
thinks some sort of
emergency must be
occurring, so it
releases hormones that
tell the adrenal glands
to produce adrenaline
(epinephrine).
Effects of Increased Adrenaline
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Pupils dilate
Breathing tubes to open up
Heart to beat faster
Blood flow to the stomach slows
The liver releases sugar into the
bloodstream for extra energy
Withdrawal Symptoms
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Vomiting
Headache
An Increase in Heart Rate
Anxiety
Difficulty Sleeping
The Caffeine Withdrawal
Headache
• Consumption of caffeine
causes the blood vessels in
the head to constrict
• Once caffeine is processed
these same blood vessels
hyper-dilate.
• The hyper-dilation in the
brain causes a withdrawal
headache
Caffeine is a Diuretic
• adenosine receptors
function in the kidneys to
control blood flow and to
control the amount of
urine excreted into the
bladder.
• When caffeine blocks
adenosine receptors, the
blood vessels in the
kidney dilate, and more
urine is produced.
Caffeine is a Laxative
• The colon like the
kidney’s have adenosine
receptors that control the
relaxation and contraction
of smooth muscle.
• Caffeine blocks the
message that tells the
muscles to relax
• Smooth muscles in the
colon contract more easily
allowing material to be
pushed down the digestive
tract freely.
Caffeine Addiction
• Many people enjoy the effects such as the feeling
of alertness and euphoria caffeine produce.
• Which can lead to Dependence or Addiction.
• The feelings are caused by caffeine’s ability to
manipulate the dopamine levels in the brain.
Caffeine and Dopamine
Cocaine Effect Dopamine the Same Way As Caffeine
• When caffeine or any
stimulant, is present in the
synapse of the brain. It
binds to the uptake pumps
and prevents them from
removing dopamine.
• This results in a increased
level of dopamine in the
synapses.
Conclusions
Whatever function the binding of adenosine
had, caffeine inhibits that function!
• Blocks Adenosine Receptor Sites
• Increases Adrenaline Levels
• Manipulates the Levels of Dopamine