Coffee 'does not make the brain more alert'

[nabraxas]

03 Jun 2010

Scientists found the so-called “caffeine high” is just a reaction to the body craving the drug.

The research found that coffee lovers were no more awake than those who did not drink caffeine in the morning.

In fact, the study of 379 people showed, regular coffee drinkers needed a hit of caffeine to bring them up to the same level of alertness as non-coffee drinkers.

Prof Peter Rogers, from the University of Bristol's Department of Experimental Psychology, which led the study, said: "Our study shows that we don't gain an advantage from consuming caffeine.

"Although we feel alerted by it, this is caffeine just bringing us back to normal."

Researchers deprived each person of coffee for 16 hours before giving the participants either caffeine or a placebo.

Each person then underwent a series of tasks to measure their attentiveness, memory and vigilance.

The study, published online in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, found there was "little difference" in the results between the coffee users and those who were given placebos.

Prof Rogers added: "On the other hand, while caffeine can increase anxiety, tolerance means that for most caffeine consumers this effect is negligible."

The research was supported by a grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7797972/Coffee-does-not-make-the-brain-more-alert.html

[michaelangelica]

I am a bit dubious about this research(?).

I saw it in Cosmos online. I didn't really understand it so went to find the original article and it does not seem to exist.(!)

or at least i could not find it given the author name and journal referenced.

[Sonny Jim]

Thanks for posting that nabraxas.

The report of this study rings true for a few people I know, who often say words to the effect of "don't talk to me I haven't had my coffee yet. Or "I cant do anything until I've had my morning coffee".

I don't think they are going to like hearing it but I will tell them anyway.

[Alchemica]

The original article doesn't seem to be available yet but here is the abstract:

Association of the Anxiogenic and alerting Effects of Caffeine with ADORA2A and ADORA1 Polymorphisms and Habitual Level of Caffeine Consumption

Caffeine, a widely consumed adenosine A1 and A2A receptor antagonist, is valued as a psychostimulant, but it is also anxiogenic. An association between a variant within the ADORA2A gene (rs5751876) and caffeine-induced anxiety has been reported for individuals who habitually consume little caffeine. This study investigated whether this single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) might also affect habitual caffeine intake, and whether habitual intake might moderate the anxiogenic effect of caffeine. Participants were 162 non-/low (NL) and 217 medium/high (MH) caffeine consumers. In a randomized, double-blind, parallel groups design they rated anxiety, alertness, and headache before and after 100 mg caffeine and again after another 150 mg caffeine given 90 min later, or after placebo on both occasions. Caffeine intake was prohibited for 16 h before the first dose of caffeine/placebo. Results showed greater susceptibility to caffeine-induced anxiety, but not lower habitual caffeine intake (indeed coffee intake was higher), in the rs5751876 TT genotype group, and a reduced anxiety response in MH vs NL participants irrespective of genotype. Apart from the almost completely linked ADORA2A SNP rs3761422, no other of eight ADORA2A and seven ADORA1 SNPs studied were found to be clearly associated with effects of caffeine on anxiety, alertness, or headache. Placebo administration in MH participants decreased alertness and increased headache. Caffeine did not increase alertness in NL participants. With frequent consumption, substantial tolerance develops to the anxiogenic effect of caffeine, even in genetically susceptible individuals, but no net benefit for alertness is gained, as caffeine abstinence reduces alertness and consumption merely returns it to baseline.

Should be online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npp.2010.71 soon.

Edited June 5, 2010 by Alchemica

[faustus]

LOL thanks for the find. reminds me of smoking. create an addiction, experience craving, derive gratification from sating that craving. a hedonic carrot on a stick if you will.

regardless, there ain't no fucking way i'm giving up my morning coffee.

[paradox]

haha but yeah the outcome seems quite logical to my reasoning & experience..

[naja naja]

spot on, I didn't start consuming caffine until 22 years of age, was alert and buzzy all the time even with heavy herb consumption. Now since I started drinking so called energy drinks I NEED them to be alert/awake and am now addicted. And I bomb out hard when the caffine wears off. Rings very true to me, however I love the taste of redbull. On a side note, non carbonated energy shots seem to do nill for me. Maybe it's just the sugar hit? or maybe the CO2 helps deliver the caffine more effectively? Maybe a placebo effect.

[nabraxas]

or maybe the CO2 helps deliver the caffine more effectively?

The BAL rises more rapidly in those who drink on an empty stomach. Water and fruit juices slow the absorption process, while carbon dioxide speeds it up. The carbon dioxide in champagne and carbonated mixers such as Cola, and soda water rushes through the stomach and intestinal walls into the blood stream, carrying alcohol with it and creating a rapid rise in BAL.

http://www.oregoncounseling.org/ArticlesPapers/Documents/ETOHBIOFx.htm

i guess the same would be happening w/the caffeine.