Does Caffeine Speed Up Metabolism?

Caffeine has become a central part of regular life, with Biology Online reporting that Americans consume between 196 mg and 423 mg of the substance daily. While some people are just drinking sodas or coffee for the taste, others are seeking out caffeine sources to help give their metabolisms a boost. This has spawned a number of supplements, diet pills and energy drinks that make many claims about caffeine's effects on metabolic function. Investigating the truth will help to align caffeine consumption with metabolic goals.

The Facts

Biology Online reports that caffeine is 99 percent absorbed by the body within 45 minutes of consumption. However, despite its popularity as a metabolic booster, the results are mixed, according to the "Journal of Applied Physiology." While some studies claim caffeine can boost performance and metabolism, other studies show no effects, such as a project featured in "The Journal of Physiology" which showed that caffeine had no effect on carbohydrate and fat metabolism.

Popular Culture

Some two-thirds of the caffeine consumed by adults in America comes from coffee, which Biology Online notes provides caffeine with a starring, if often overlooked, role in daily life. People mainly think of caffeine in the mornings, and not necessarily as a metabolism booster throughout the day, though they do understand that it has stimulant powers.

Considerations

Caffeine can be a very addictive substance, and leaving caffeine behind can result in withdrawal symptoms, according to the "Journal of Applied Physiology." Biology Online also notes that the effects of caffeine are relatively short-lived versus more permanent metabolic boosts such as regular exercise.

Warnings

Caffeine is a stimulant, and there isn't a cell membrane in the body that it can't pass through. Biology Online notes that this includes the blood-brain barrier and the mother-child link in pregnancy. Women who are pregnant and heavy consumers of caffeine stand a higher chance of having premature babies, notes Biology Online.

Potential

With negative research from "The Journal of Physiology" and mixed takes in other places, the biggest potential for caffeine seems to be as a research item. Until researchers determine unequivocally one way of the other, seeking out caffeine as a means of speeding up the metabolism is not likely to yield much in the way of results.