Ingredient Spotlight: Caffeine

Product: Alani Nu Energy Drink- Cosmic Stardust

1. Structure

1,3,7 – trimethylxanthine

2. Source

• An alkaloid (naturally occurring compound that contains a nitrogen atom).
• Occurs naturally in 60+ plant species globally (protects from disease and predators).
• Substance produced via extraction from plants or synthesis in laboratories.

3. Benefits

• stimulant
• increases
  • energy
  • alertness
  • excitement and mood
• better 
  • focus
  • cognition
  • memory
• reduces feelings of fatigue

4. Mechanism of Action

• After ingestion, rapidly absorbed by the GI tract into the bloodstream.
  Distributes throughout the entire body
• Increases blood circulation and respiratory rate
• Passes through the blood brain barrier
  
• Caffeine competes with adenosine (promotes sleep and suppresses alertness)
  
  • Caffeine close in structure to adenosine
• Caffeine increases
  • dopamine (feelings of satisfaction “good”)
  • noradrenalin (norepinephrine alertness and attention)
    

5. Concerns

• Increases blood pressure.
• Tolerance develops within 1-3 days. Partially lost in as little as 12h.
• Can cause negative behavior such as insomnia, irritability, and anxiety.
  • People tend to self limit when behavioral results are negative.
• Passes through the placenta, amniotic fluid, fetus, and into breast milk.
• FDA/European Food Safety Authority recommends less than 400 mg daily.
  • 500-600 mg daily = significant health risk.
• Going Over recommended limits or sudden stopping can lead to
  • hypertension, headache GI disturbances, dehydration, and palpitations.
    

6. Other Benefits

• Caffeine has been linked to a lower chance of developing Parkinson’s disease, and it may help those with Parkinson’s better control their movements

References

(1) Rodak, K.; Kokot, I.; Kratz, E. M. Caffeine as a Factor Influencing the Functioning of the Human Body—Friend or Foe? Nutrients 2021, 13 (9), 3088. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093088.

(2) Nawrot, P.; Jordan, S.; Eastwood, J.; Rotstein, J.; Hugenholtz, A.; Feeley, M. Effects of Caffeine on Human Health. Food additives and contaminants 2003, 20 (1), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/0265203021000007840.

(3) Saraiva, S.; Jacinto, T.; Goncalves, A.; Gaspar, D.; Silva, L. Overview of Caffeine Effects on Human Health and Emerging Delivery Strategies. Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16 (1067).

(4) Nu, A. Energy Drink - Cosmic Stardust. Alani Nu. https://www.alaninu.com/products/energy-drink-cosmic-stardust.

Disclaimer

I am not a medical doctor, I am not a nutritionist, I am not a personal trainer, I am not a physical therapist. I have a PhD in Chemistry, I use this ingredient/product, and I like showing my work.