Caffeine is a stimulant and diuretic that affects your central nervous system. Plants, such as coffee, contain caffeine but it is also possible to synthesize caffeine and add it to beverages like soda and energy drinks. Your body absorbs caffeine quickly and passes it into your brain swiftly, notes MedlinePlus. Caffeine does not accumulate in your bloodstream. Long-term caffeine consumption has been associated with health conditions that include hyperglycemia and kidney problems.
Caffeine Adverse Reactions and Side Effects
Caffeine consumption sometimes causes palpitations, tachycardia as well as insomnia, restlessness and kidney failure, Drugs.com says. Other adverse reactions associated with caffeine consumption are myocardial irritability, seizures, ketosis and pulmonary edema. Caffeine withdrawal occurs about 12 hours after chronic caffeine consumption. Caffeine also stimulates glycogenolysis and lipolysis, which cause your fatty acid and blood sugar levels to increase.
Renal Function and Hypertension
The "Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology" included a study in the March 1999 issue that discovered that caffeine accelerated the decline of renal function between 10 to 20 weeks after regular exposure to water with 0.1 percent caffeine. The study involved the use of rat test subjects that were divided into two groups. One group received caffeinated water while the other received ordinary water. The study aimed to examine the relationship between hypertension, caffeine consumption and renal function. At the end of the 20 weeks, the study found caffeine had no significant effect on blood pressure, heart rate of vascular resistance. However, caffeine caused increased creatinine clearance and reduced glomerular filtration rates in the rat test subjects. The findings suggest that caffeine adversely affects renal function in people suffering from hypertension. Tests involving human subjects are needed to further explore this phenomenon.
Renal Function and Obesity
A study published in the April 2002 issue of "Kidney International" found that caffeine caused a 4 to 5 percent increase in arterial blood pressure and heart rate in obese rat subjects. The study also showed that caffeine increased renal vascular resistance by 95.1 mmHg/min/g kidney to 106 mmHg/min/g kidney. Although caffeine actually improved insulin sensitivity, its consumption brings about renal failure in obese rats.
Renal Function and Diabetes
In the March 2001 issue of "Renal Failure," a study showed that caffeine consumption increased insulin sensitivity in rats about eight weeks after regular caffeine intake of 0.1 percent caffeinated water. The study also showed that caffeine treatment caused fasting glucose levels in rat test subjects to drop to about 138.7 mg/dL from 145 mg/dL before caffeine treatment. However, caffeine also increased blood cholesterol levels and gradually impaired renal function in diabetic rat subjects.
References
- Drugs.com: Caffeine
- "Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology"; Effects of Long-Term Caffeine Consumption on Renal Function in Spontaneously Hypertensive Heart Failure Prone Rats; S.P. Tofovic, et al.; March 1999
- "Kidney International"; Long-Term Caffeine Consumption Exacerbates Renal Failure in Obese, Diabetic, ZSF1 Rats; S.P. Tofovic, et al.; April 2002
- MedlinePlus: Caffeine in the Diet
- "Renal Failure"; Renal and Metabolic Effects of Caffeine in Obese, Diabetic, Hypertensive ZSF1 Rats; S.P. Tofovic, et al.; March 2001
Member Comments