The sudden death of an Ohio teen due to caffeine overdose in May highlighted the potential dangers of the normally well-tolerated and mass-consumed substance.
To help prevent serious health problems that can arise from consuming too much caffeine, scientists are reporting progress toward a rapid, at-home test to detect even low levels of the stimulant in most beverages and even breast milk. Their report appears in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
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Mani Subramanian and colleagues note that caffeine's popularity as a "pick-me-up" has led to it being added to more than 570 beverages and 150 food products, including gums and jelly beans. It also comes in a pure powder form that consumers can use themselves to spike drinks and food. In small amounts, most people can handle caffeine without a problem. But excessive doses can lead to serious health problems, including insomnia, hallucinations, vitamin deficiency, several types of cancer and in rare cases, death. Subramanian's team wanted to develop a quick and easy way for consumers to determine whether the caffeine levels in their foods and drinks fall within a safe range.
They tested an enzyme called caffeine dehydrogenase and found that it could detect caffeine in a variety of drinks — with the exception of teas — within one minute. Also, it was sensitive enough to pick up on caffeine's presence at concentrations as low as 1 to 5 parts per million, the maximum limit the Food and Drug Administration advises for nursing mothers. They say that their method could be integrated into a dip-stick type of test, like over-the-counter pregnancy tests, that could be used at home.
Source: Eurekalert
Source: Eurekalert
Different Ways Caffeine Affects Boys and Girls After Puberty: Study
Children as young as four are targeted by the popularity of caffeinated sodas and energy drinks, and caffeine intake by children and adolescents has been rising for decades.
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 Good News for Caffeine Addicts from Diabetes ResearchLower risk for adult-onset diabetes was seen in people who boosted their coffee intake by moderate to large doses, than those with stable consumption, US-based study researchers | Advertisement
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Clue to Caffeine Benefit on Alzheimer's Found in Lab
Evidence has been found in the lab by French and German researchers on Wednesday, to back theories that drinking caffeine has a preventive effect on Alzheimer's disease.
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