Caffeine Intake among Undergraduate Students: Sex Differences,Sources, Motivations,and Associations with Smoking Status and Self-Reported Sleep Quality

Due to its stimulatory effects, caffeine is one of the most frequently consumed mood and behavior altering drugs. University students report using caffeine-containing products to enhance mood and performance or for a desire of alertness. The current study investigated caffeine consumption in university undergraduate students, and associations with smoking status, alcohol and cannabis consumption, fruit and vegetable consumption, and sleep quality. Motivations for caffeine intake were also ascertained. A total of 886 undergraduates aged 18–25 years from the University of the Balearic Islands participated in a cross-sectional survey. Caffeine was consumed by 91.1% of participants. Caffeine consumers were more likely to be female, smokers, and alcohol and cannabis consumers. Coffee was found to be the main source of caffeine intake in both men and women (48.9% of total caffeine intake). Higher percentages of women consumed coffee (56.4 vs. 42.1%, p = 0.01) and tea (40.3 vs. 19.8%, p < 0.001), whereas a higher percentage of men consumed energy drinks (18.0 vs. 7.4%, p < 0.001). Main motivations for caffeine intake were those related to cognitive enhancement. Caffeine intake was associated with poorer subjective sleep quality (p < 0.001). In conclusion, undergraduate students that were female and smokers reported higher caffeine intakes. Coffee was found as the main caffeine contributor, with higher contributions of tea in women and energy drinks in men. Universities should consider the implementation of health campaigns and educational programs to educate students of the risks of high caffeine consumption together with associated behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and poor sleep quality to physical health and academic performance.     

nSIMV或NIPPV联合咖啡因在重度ARDS 早产儿撤机后的应用研究

目的 比较鼻塞式同步间歇指令通气(nSIMV)或经鼻间歇正压通气(NIPPV)联合咖啡因在重度急性呼吸窘迫综合征(ARDS)早产儿撤机后的应用效果.方法 选取2018年3月—2019年3月徐州医科大学附属儿童医院收治的重度ARDS早产儿87例临床资料,均实施机械通气,其中,41例撤机后接受nSIMV联合咖啡因治疗(A组...     

Prevalence and Amounts of Common Ingredients Found in Energy Drinks and Shots

Background: Energy drinks are one of the most popular packaged beverage products consumed within the United States (US). Energy drinks are considered a functional beverage, a category that also includes sports drinks and nutraceutical beverages. Purpose: The focus of the current study was to examine the nutrition fact panels of the top selling commercially available energy drink and energy shot products within the US to characterize common ingredient profiles to help establish a standard definition and ingredient profile of energy drinks and energy shots for consumers, health care practitioners, and researchers. Methods: The top 75 commercially available energy drinks and shots were identified and compiled from multiple commercial retail websites as of September 2021. For the purpose of this study, an energy drink must have met the following criteria: (A) marketed as an energy drink; (B) purported to improve energy, focus, or alertness; (C) not sold as a dietary supplement (no supplement fact panels); (D) manufactured as a pre-packaged and ready-to-drink beverage; and (E) contains at least three of (1) caffeine, (2) B-vitamins, (3) sugar, (4) taurine, (5) creatine, (6) quercetin, (7) guarana, (8) ginseng, (9) coenzyme Q10, or (10) branched chain amino acids. Energy shots must have met similar criteria to be included: (A) marketed as an energy shot; (B) purported to improve energy, focus, or alertness; (C) sold as a dietary supplement; (D) manufactured as a pre-packaged beverage with a small volume (<3.5 mL); and (E) contains at least three of the ingredients stated above. Results: Twenty energy shots and fifty-five energy drinks were included in this analysis. The number of ingredients per product (mean ± SD) was 18.2 ± 5.7, with 15 products containing proprietary blends with undisclosed ingredient amounts. The relative prevalence and average amounts of the top ingredients were as follows: caffeine (100%; 174.4 ± 81.1 mg), vitamin B6 (72%; 366.9 ± 648.1 percent daily value (%DV)), vitamin B3 (67%; 121.44 ± 69.9% DV), vitamin B12 (67%; 5244.5 ± 10,474.6% DV), vitamin B5 (37.3%; 113.6 ± 76.6% DV), and taurine (37.3%; amounts undisclosed). Conclusions: Our findings suggest a high prevalence of caffeine and B-vitamins in these energy products, with many of the formulations containing well above the recommended daily value of B-vitamins.     

Effects of Caffeine Consumption on Autologous Full-Thickness Skin Graft Healing in an Animal Model

Background There exists contradictory evidence that states both the beneficial and deleterious effects of caffeine on wound healing. The general population might unknowingly consume caffeine that negatively affects wound healing. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of daily caffeine consumption on wound healing, specifically full-thickness skin graft (FTSG). Methods Forty Sprague–Dawley rats were randomized into four groups of equal size: control-dose (CD), low-dose (LD), medium-dose (MD), and high-dose (HD) caffeine groups. After autologous FTSG, all subjects in the intervention group were given daily pure caffeine gavage. The FTSG was explanted 7 days posttransplant. The graft viability, secondary contraction, and adherence were evaluated macroscopically, while fibroblast and collagen deposition was analyzed microscopically with hematoxylin eosin stain. Results The least graft viability (72.8 ± 20.7%, clinical wound assessment scale [CWAS] 2.4), highest secondary contraction (11.4 ± 10.5%), and fibroblast count (331.8 ± 88.6 cells/5 high power fields) were observed in the MD group. More collagen synthesis was observed in subjects who consumed caffeine. The level of secondary contraction, fibroblast count as well as graft viability and collagen synthesis were positively correlated. Conclusions Daily consumption of caffeine impairs graft viability when given in medium dose and increases collagen synthesis, irrespective of dosage. This study was in experimental rats; the results are not directly translatable to humans.     

Intake Estimation of Phytochemicals in a French Well-Balanced Diet

Phytochemicals contribute to the health benefits of plant-rich diets, notably through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, recommended daily amounts of the main dietary phytochemicals remain undetermined. We aimed to estimate the amounts of phytochemicals in a well-balanced diet. A modelled diet was created, containing dietary reference intakes for adults in France. Two one-week menus (summer and winter) were devised to reflect typical intakes of plant-based foods. Existing databases were used to estimate daily phytochemical content for seven phytochemical families: phenolic acids, flavonoids (except anthocyanins), anthocyanins, tannins, organosulfur compounds, carotenoids, and caffeine. The summer and winter menus provided 1607 and 1441 mg/day, respectively, of total polyphenols (phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and tannins), the difference being driven by reduced anthocyanin intake in winter. Phenolic acids, flavonoids (including anthocyanins), and tannins accounted for approximately 50%, 25%, and 25% of total polyphenols, respectively. Dietary carotenoid and organosulfur compound content was estimated to be approximately 17 and 70 mg/day, respectively, in both seasons. Finally, both menus provided approximately 110 mg/day of caffeine, exclusively from tea and coffee. Our work supports ongoing efforts to define phytochemical insufficiency states that may occur in individuals with unbalanced diets and related disease risk factors.     

胞内钙离子浓度与咖啡因抗凋亡作用的关系

目的 :研究咖啡因对低钾诱导的小脑颗粒神经元凋亡的保护作用与细胞内钙离子浓度升高之间的关系。方法 :小脑颗粒神经元培养 ,凝胶电泳和fura 2荧光技术测胞内钙离子浓度。结果 :低钾的促凋亡作用可被咖啡因浓度依赖性地保护 ,且咖啡因的保护作用不受ryanodine敏感性钙释放的阻断剂 (ryanodine、dantrolene)的影响 ;也不被L 型钙通道阻断剂 (硝苯地平、维拉帕米和尼莫地平 )和NMDA受体阻断剂 (MK80 1)抑制。结论 :咖啡因对低钾诱导的小脑颗粒神经元凋亡的保护作用并不依赖胞内钙离子浓度的升高。     

低侵入性肺表面活性物质联合咖啡因对无创高频辅助通气治疗早产ARDS患儿脑神经发育的影响

目的 探讨低侵入性肺表面活性物质联合咖啡因对无创高频辅助通气治疗早产急性呼吸窘迫综合征（ARDS）患儿脑神经发育的影响。方法 选取2020年6月—2022年6月海南西部中心医院收治的84例接受无创高频辅助通气治疗的早产ARDS患儿,按随机数字表法分为研究组和对照组,每组42例。对照组给予低侵入性肺表面活性物质治疗,研究组给予低侵入性肺表面活性物质联合咖啡因治疗。比较两组患儿的呼吸机使用时间、用氧时长、住院时间,治疗48 h后的临床疗效,治疗前和治疗48 h后的动脉血氧分压差值、动脉血二氧化碳分压差值、吸入氧浓度差值、智力发展指数差值、精神运动发育指数差值;采用酶联免疫吸附试验测定血清β-内啡肽（β-EP）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）水平;比较两组并发症情况。结果 研究组呼吸机使用时间、用氧时长、住院时间均短于对照组（P <0.05）;研究组临床总有效率高于对照组（P <0.05）;研究组治疗前后动脉血氧分压差值、动脉血二氧化碳分压差值、吸入氧浓度差值均高于对照组（P <0.05）;研究组治疗前后智力发展指数差值和精神运动发育指数差值均高于对照组（P <0.05）;研究组治疗前后血清β-EP差值和GSH-Px差值均高于对照组（P <0.05）;两组患儿并发症发生率比较,差异无统计学意义（P >0.05）。结论 低侵入性肺表面活性物质联合咖啡因用于无创高频辅助通气治疗的早产ARDS患儿可以缩短治疗时间,改善神经发育,疗效确切,安全可靠。     

Effects of Caffeine and Noise on Mood,Performance and Cardiovascular Functioning

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of caffeine and noise on mood, mental performance and cardiovascular function. One hundred and six young adults (mean age 21·2 years) took part in the study. Subjects were assigned to one of six groups formed by combining noise/quiet and drink (caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee and fruit juice) conditions. Subjects were familiarized with the tasks and then completed a pre-drink baseline session (conducted in the quiet). Subjects were then given either caffeinated coffee (1·5 mg/kg caffeine), decaffeinated coffee or fruit juice. Following consumption of the drink subjects were re-tested 1 h later, either in noise (75 dBA conglomerate noise, consisting of speech, music and machinery noise) or in quiet. The subjects exposed to noise felt more anxious and showed an increase in blood pressure. Their performance of a cognitive vigilance task also declined over time. There were no significant main effects of caffeine, although simple reaction time was quickest in the caffeinated coffee group. Caffeine did not modify the effects of noise on mood, cardiovascular functioning or sustained attention. Indeed, the only interaction between drinks and noise was found in recall and recognition memory tasks, with the caffeine/noise group having better memory performance than the decaffeinated/noise subjects. Overall, the results show that low levels of caffeine do not increase the behavioural and physiological changes observed in a stressful situation. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of Various Antiepileptic Drugs in Zebrafish PTZ-Seizure Model

Recently zebrafish larvae have emerged as a high-throughput model for screening pharmacological activities. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of established anticonvulsants, such as valproic acid, carbamazepine, gabapentin, diazepam, lacosamide and pregabalin against pentylenetetrazole (6 mM) seizures in adult zebrafish. Different phases of seizures (increase swim activity, rapid whirlpool-like circling swim behaviour and brief clonus-like seizures leading to loss of posture) were elicited in zebrafish on exposure for 15 min to 6 mM pentylenetetrazole. The exposure of zebrafish to an increasing concentration of the anticonvulsants alongside 6 mM pentylenetetrazole showed concentration-dependent elevation of seizure latency against pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures except for pregabalin, which failed to produce any anticonvulsant activity in zebrafish. Moreover the proconvulsant activity of caffeine was also evaluated using suboptimal concentration (4 mM) of pentylenetetrazole in adult zebrafish. Decrease in seizure latency of different phases of seizures was observed with increasing concentration of caffeine compared with its respective control group. In view of the above findings, the results of the present study suggested that adult zebrafish produce the expected anticonvulsive and proconvulsive effects and could potentially be used as a screen in future epilepsy research.