Τόμος 3 (1985) – Τεύχος 2 – Άρθρο 1 – Επιθεώρηση Κλινικής Φαρμακολογίας και Φαρμακοκινητικής-Ελληνική Έκδοση – Volume 3 (1985) – Issue 2 – Article 1 – Epitheorese Klinikes Farmakologias και Farmakokinetikes-Greek Edition

Biological Effects of Caffeine

CH. T. PLESSAS AND S. T. PLESSAS

^{Τμήμα Επιστημονικής Πληροφόρησης}

3: 7-22 (1985)

PHARMAKON-Press: Epitheorese Klin. Farmakol. Farmakokinet.

3: 7-22 (1985)

Caffeine, Biological Effects

Caffeine is one of the world’s most widely used drug; its major sources are: coffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate products, soft drinks, and drug products. The mean daily inta­ke of caffeine is approximately 3 mg/kg for adults, 1 mg/kg for children under 18 years of age and 2,1 mg/kg for pregnant women. Caf­feine is rapidly and completely absorbed after oral consumption. Peak plasma levels are at­tained within 15-45 min. Caffeine is distributed into all body compartments. It is eliminated primarily by metabolism in the liver; its meta­bolites in man are: theobromine, paraxanthine, 6-amino-5[N-formyl-methylamino] 1 ,3-dimethyluracil, 6-amino-5[Ν-formyl-methylamino] 1­ methyluracil, 6-amino-5[Ν-formyl-methylamino] 3-methyluracil, 1-methylxanthine, 5-acetylami­nο-6-fοrmylaminο-3-methyluracil and 5-acety­laminο-6-amino-3-methyluracil. Caffeine has effects on the central nervous system (stimu­lation), kidney (diuresis), cardiovascular system (increased heart-rate and blood pressure), metabolism (increased lipolysis in adipose tissue), and skeletal muscle as well as smooth muscle. Several mechanisms have been proposed for the action of caffeine: translocation of intra­cellular calcium, inhibition of the enzyme pho­sphodiesterase (increased accumulation of cAMP) and inhibition of neural transmission at certain synopses, especially in the CNS, where adenosine, a structural analog, may be a neu­rotransmitter.

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