Caffeine and Its Antioxidant Properties—It Is All about Dose and Source
Caffeine is the most frequently used substance with a central nervous system stimulant effect, but its consumption is most often due to the intake of foods and drinks that contain it (coffee, tea, chocolate, food supplements with plant extracts of Guarana, <i>Mate herba</i>, Cola nuts)....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-10-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/21/13074 |
| _version_ | 1797468050923978752 |
|---|---|
| author | Bianca-Eugenia Ősz George Jîtcă Ruxandra-Emilia Ștefănescu Amalia Pușcaș Amelia Tero-Vescan Camil-Eugen Vari |
| author_facet | Bianca-Eugenia Ősz George Jîtcă Ruxandra-Emilia Ștefănescu Amalia Pușcaș Amelia Tero-Vescan Camil-Eugen Vari |
| author_sort | Bianca-Eugenia Ősz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Caffeine is the most frequently used substance with a central nervous system stimulant effect, but its consumption is most often due to the intake of foods and drinks that contain it (coffee, tea, chocolate, food supplements with plant extracts of Guarana, <i>Mate herba</i>, Cola nuts). Due to its innocuity, caffeine is a safe xanthine alkaloid for human consumption in a wide range of doses, being used for its central nervous stimulating effect, lipolytic and diuresis-enhancing properties, but also as a permitted ergogenic compound in athletes. In addition to the mechanisms that explain the effects of caffeine on the targeted organ, there are many proposed mechanisms by which this substance would have antioxidant effects. As such, its consumption prevents the occurrence/progression of certain neurodegenerative diseases as well as other medical conditions associated with increased levels of reactive oxygen or nitrogen species. However, most studies that have assessed the beneficial effects of caffeine have used pure caffeine. The question, therefore, arises whether the daily intake of caffeine from food or drink has similar benefits, considering that in foods or drinks with a high caffeine content, there are other substances that could interfere with this action, either by potentiating or decreasing its antioxidant capacity. Natural sources of caffeine often combine plant polyphenols (phenol-carboxylic acids, catechins) with known antioxidant effects; however, stimulant drinks and dietary supplements often contain sugars or artificial sweeteners that can significantly reduce the effects of caffeine on oxidative stress. The objective of this review is to clarify the effects of caffeine in modulating oxidative stress and assess these benefits, considering the source and the dose administered. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:01:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dba902f20ecb4e3fa9e9fd65ccba5305 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:01:03Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-dba902f20ecb4e3fa9e9fd65ccba53052023-11-24T05:01:59ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672022-10-0123211307410.3390/ijms232113074Caffeine and Its Antioxidant Properties—It Is All about Dose and SourceBianca-Eugenia Ősz0George Jîtcă1Ruxandra-Emilia Ștefănescu2Amalia Pușcaș3Amelia Tero-Vescan4Camil-Eugen Vari5Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540139 Targu Mures, RomaniaDepartment of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540139 Targu Mures, RomaniaDepartment of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540139 Targu Mures, RomaniaDepartment of Biochemistry and Chemistry of Environmental Factors, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540139 Targu Mures, RomaniaDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540139 Targu Mures, RomaniaDepartment of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540139 Targu Mures, RomaniaCaffeine is the most frequently used substance with a central nervous system stimulant effect, but its consumption is most often due to the intake of foods and drinks that contain it (coffee, tea, chocolate, food supplements with plant extracts of Guarana, <i>Mate herba</i>, Cola nuts). Due to its innocuity, caffeine is a safe xanthine alkaloid for human consumption in a wide range of doses, being used for its central nervous stimulating effect, lipolytic and diuresis-enhancing properties, but also as a permitted ergogenic compound in athletes. In addition to the mechanisms that explain the effects of caffeine on the targeted organ, there are many proposed mechanisms by which this substance would have antioxidant effects. As such, its consumption prevents the occurrence/progression of certain neurodegenerative diseases as well as other medical conditions associated with increased levels of reactive oxygen or nitrogen species. However, most studies that have assessed the beneficial effects of caffeine have used pure caffeine. The question, therefore, arises whether the daily intake of caffeine from food or drink has similar benefits, considering that in foods or drinks with a high caffeine content, there are other substances that could interfere with this action, either by potentiating or decreasing its antioxidant capacity. Natural sources of caffeine often combine plant polyphenols (phenol-carboxylic acids, catechins) with known antioxidant effects; however, stimulant drinks and dietary supplements often contain sugars or artificial sweeteners that can significantly reduce the effects of caffeine on oxidative stress. The objective of this review is to clarify the effects of caffeine in modulating oxidative stress and assess these benefits, considering the source and the dose administered.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/21/13074caffeineoxidative stresscoffeecocoasweetsxanthine oxidase |
| spellingShingle | Bianca-Eugenia Ősz George Jîtcă Ruxandra-Emilia Ștefănescu Amalia Pușcaș Amelia Tero-Vescan Camil-Eugen Vari Caffeine and Its Antioxidant Properties—It Is All about Dose and Source International Journal of Molecular Sciences caffeine oxidative stress coffee cocoa sweets xanthine oxidase |
| title | Caffeine and Its Antioxidant Properties—It Is All about Dose and Source |
| title_full | Caffeine and Its Antioxidant Properties—It Is All about Dose and Source |
| title_fullStr | Caffeine and Its Antioxidant Properties—It Is All about Dose and Source |
| title_full_unstemmed | Caffeine and Its Antioxidant Properties—It Is All about Dose and Source |
| title_short | Caffeine and Its Antioxidant Properties—It Is All about Dose and Source |
| title_sort | caffeine and its antioxidant properties it is all about dose and source |
| topic | caffeine oxidative stress coffee cocoa sweets xanthine oxidase |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/21/13074 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT biancaeugeniaosz caffeineanditsantioxidantpropertiesitisallaboutdoseandsource AT georgejitca caffeineanditsantioxidantpropertiesitisallaboutdoseandsource AT ruxandraemiliastefanescu caffeineanditsantioxidantpropertiesitisallaboutdoseandsource AT amaliapuscas caffeineanditsantioxidantpropertiesitisallaboutdoseandsource AT ameliaterovescan caffeineanditsantioxidantpropertiesitisallaboutdoseandsource AT camileugenvari caffeineanditsantioxidantpropertiesitisallaboutdoseandsource |