# \[Edited title: Is caffeine bad for you?\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 20, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453 "2011-08-20T18:43:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/1 "2011-08-20T18:43:06Z")
I have read that it improves alertness but decreases higher brain function. Your brain can very quickly become tolerant of it, so it stops having an effect. I have also read, perversely, that if you revise with caffeine, you will only recall info learned, if you take caffeine on the day of the exam. [This](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&uid=15164887&cmd=showdetailview&indexed=google) study suggest about 20mg per hour is an optimal dose. Which is less then coffee, black tea and green tea. ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/2 "2011-08-20T19:05:48Z")
BTW, I have been “decaf” for a year now. I am often tired and find a multivitamin can remedy this. ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/3 "2011-08-20T20:23:51Z")
[This](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100602211940.htm) states that caffeine benefits are not even real. They are just people returning to normal state after suffering caffeine withdrawal. What do you all think? Sorry if this thread has been scatty and not concise. I am taking in so much studies about caffeine right now. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/4 "2011-08-20T20:52:58Z")
> [@anon11](#): > > [This](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&uid=15164887&cmd=showdetailview&indexed=google) study suggest about 20mg per hour is an optimal dose. Which is less then coffee, black tea and green tea. Which is less than **how much** coffee, black tea, etc.? That’s somewhere in the vicinity ( **very** roughly) of a cup of coffee every 5 hours, or a cup of tea (again, **very** roughly) every 3 hours. See [How Much Caffeine Is in Coffee, Tea, and Soda?](http://coffeetea.about.com/od/caffeinehealth/a/How-Much-Caffeine-Is-In-Coffee-Tea-Cola-And-Other-Drinks.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/5 "2011-08-20T22:47:42Z")
> [@anon11](#): > > [This](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100602211940.htm) states that caffeine benefits are not even real. They are just people returning to normal state after suffering caffeine withdrawal. > > What do you all think? Sorry if this thread has been scatty and not concise. I am taking in so much studies about caffeine right now. 🙂 [Moderating] Since this is General Questions, could you please state some specific questions? I don’t see one in the OP, and “what do you all think” is a bit vague. Maybe you need some coffee.😉 Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/6 "2011-08-20T22:56:23Z")
Wiki has a page on [caffeine and memory](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_of_caffeine_on_memory) with cites. The results are mixed. ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/7 "2011-08-21T15:17:42Z")
Colibri, could you remove this thread please? I have re-made a thread, including a question. ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/8 "2011-08-21T15:44:57Z")
I have read it improves alertness but decreases higher brain functions. Your brain quickly changes to become tolerant of it. So, it stops having the same original effect. It also means you cannot function without it. I have read that if you revise with caffeine, you will only recall the revision if you take caffeine on the day of the exam. This would correspond with the statement above, that the caffeinated brain cannot function without it. [This](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/040512041022.htm) study suggest about 20mg per hour is an optimal dosage. Which is less then coffee, black tea and green tea. I have read that caffeine only benefits someone who is having caffeine withdrawal. To a non drinker it has no benefits. With regards it’s affects on the body, again there are benefits and minuses documented. It is said to be good for athletes but it can increase heart rate and blood pressure. From all of this, I wonder if caffeine is best taken sporadically rather then daily. What do you all think? Is the drug caffeine good or bad? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/9 "2011-08-21T15:52:21Z")
A lot of people I know get headaches if they don’t drink caffeine every day. I avoid it, so I wouldn’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/10 "2011-08-21T15:56:52Z")
> [@anon11](#): > > Colibri, could you remove this thread please? > > I have re-made a thread, including a question. I merged the two threads, and edited the title. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/11 "2011-08-21T16:10:24Z")
In that case, could you remove the original post then. It is very similar to the one I’ve just posted. Could you delete this afterwards as well hehe. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/12 "2011-08-21T16:12:32Z")
> [@anon11](#): > > I have read that caffeine only benefits someone who is having caffeine withdrawal. To a non drinker it has no benefits. [This](http://www.springerlink.com/content/qb0037brmg8h02xq/) is the study stating this point. Just found [this](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091305797005157) also. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/13 "2011-08-21T16:14:36Z")
> [@anon11](#): > > In that case, could you remove the original post then. It is very similar to the one I’ve just posted. Could you delete this afterwards as well hehe. > > Thanks [Moderating] As a matter of policy, we don’t usually remove threads or posts except in the case of spam or trolling. I think people can cope. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/14 "2011-08-21T16:16:53Z")
In terms of long term health moderate coffee intake at least seems to be associated with slightly [decreased mortality](http://jn.nutrition.org/content/140/5/1007.long). The significant intake more common in childhood currently may be a cause for some [concern](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2699625/?tool=pubmed). That article also has the following pertinent to your question: > [@](#): > > … the suggestion that caffeine administration is used primarily for withdrawal reversal is equivocal for several reasons. First, there are positive effects of moderate caffeine use which may be reinforcing on their own (Smith, 2002). Second, there are infrequent caffeine users who do not exhibit withdrawal symptoms when abstaining from caffeine. Although non-habitual caffeine consumers are rarely studied, the studies that have been done suggest that caffeine administration can stimulate mood and cognitive performance even in moderate and irregular caffeine users (Childs and de Wit, 2006; Haskell et al., 2005) and that a primary reason for infrequent use of caffeine may be the negative physiological and psychological symptoms that can occur (Stern et al., 1989). Third, not all habitual caffeine consumers exhibit withdrawal symptoms (Hughes et al., 1998), thus counteracting withdrawal symptoms as a motive for caffeine use would not apply to these individuals. It is also possible that there are multiple reasons for caffeine self-administration. In some individuals, it may be primarily for withdrawal reversal, but in others, it may be for the mild stimulant effects, and in some cases, it may be both. Most epidemiological studies suggest that there is a broad range of sensitivity to caffeine within the population, which may be associated with variability in caffeine self-administration, caffeine tolerance, and caffeine withdrawal and could be mediated, at least in part, by genetic polymorphisms that relate to enzymatic breakdown of caffeine or adenosine receptor function (Cornelis et al., 2007; Retey et al., 2007). These biological differences could mediate susceptibility to withdrawal and/or positive effects of caffeine and, therefore, may underlie motivation for caffeine administration… > > … There are also potential health risks and benefits of habitual caffeine use. … Regular, high levels of caffeine consumption (\> 450 mg/day) have been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in some studies (Greenland, 1993; Panagiotakos et al., 2003). However, there are an equal number of studies that show no relationship between caffeine consumption and CVD (Hart and Smith, 1997; Stensvold et al., 1996). High levels of caffeine use are also associated with calcium excretion and bone loss, which may contribute to osteoporosis (Barger-Lux et al., 1990; Bergman et al., 2000), however, caffeine intake appears to interact with calcium intake, such that the only group in which caffeine consumption increases bone loss is those with low calcium intake (Harris and Dawson-Hughes, 1994; Barrett-Conner et al., 1994). Finally, although the data differ among studies, most agree that high levels of caffeine consumption in women trying to conceive can be associated with low rates of conception (Christianson et al., 1989; Jensen et al., 1998; Stanton and Gray, 1995; Williams et al., 1990) and higher rates of spontaneous abortion (Dlugosz et al., 1996; Fernandes et al., 1998; Srisuphan and Bracken, 1986). As with the other papers reviewed, there is a wide range of doses at which these effects are reported as well as some studies showing no effect of caffeine on fertility (Alderete et al., 1995; Olsen, 1991; Watkinson and Fried, 1985), but the general consensus is that high levels of caffeine consumption may have adverse effects on fertility and the recommendation is for women who are trying to become pregnant to limit caffeine to \<300 mg/day (Nawrot et al., 2003). > Despite the potential health risks of caffeine consumption, there are also some reported health benefits. One of the best characterized benefits of coffee consumption is a reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (Salazar-Martinez et al., 2004; Tuomilehto et al., 2004; van Dam and Hu, 2005). Although the mechanism is not known, it appears to be related to coffee consumption and not to caffeine consumption, as decaffeinated coffee provides similar benefits and tea does not (Salazar-Martinez et al., 2004; van Dam and Feskens, 2002). There is also evidence that the thermogenic effects of caffeine can increase energy expenditure (Astrup et al., 1990; Dulloo et al., 1989), and, perhaps, reduce weight gain over time (Lopez-Garcia et al., 2006). Caffeine also appears to improve sports performance (Jones, 2008), including perceived exertion (Hudson et al., 2008) and endurance (Hogervorst et al., 2008). Finally, there is some evidence of an inverse relationship between caffeine consumption and colorectal cancer (Giovannucci, 1998; Tavani and La Vecchia, 2004) and Parkinson’s Disease (Herman et al., 2002; Ross et al., 2000), but the mechanisms for this apparent protection remain unknown. … ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/15 "2011-08-21T19:23:50Z")
Well, that paper does sell caffeine consumption to me. It fails to mention that the brain becomes tolerant of caffeine, so the benefits stop being felt. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/16 "2011-08-21T20:16:16Z")
Actually it discusses tolerance somewhat throughly. It turns out that there is quite a variety of reactions to chronic caffeine use, even to the point of “some caffeine consumers appear to develop tolerance to the negative effects of caffeine and not to the positive effects.” They go on to state > [@](#): > > In adults, caffeine-induced tolerance has been shown for some, but not all, effects and only in a subset of habitual caffeine users (Nehlig, 1999). … This tolerance is lost after a brief period of caffeine abstinence (Shi et al., 1993). … Conversely, some of the positive effects of acute caffeine (i.e. ratings of “helpful”, “alert”, “increased feelings of well-being”) occur reliably in caffeine consumers, but are not always found in non-caffeine consumers, suggesting that a subset of positive effects of caffeine actually sensitize, or get stronger, after repeated administration (Schuh and Griffiths, 1997). … Please note, the point of the paper is actually to warn about excess caffeine use among the young, especially in the form of paired with sweetened beverages. ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/17 "2011-08-22T18:00:11Z")
Would tolerance occur through one cup of tea a day? Thanks dseid. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/18 "2011-08-22T20:49:11Z")
I can’t say that I know but I’d doubt it, or at least very rarely. You’re talking maybe 50 to 60 mg of caffeine a day, less 20% of the amount the article cites as the low range in the study they cited to demonstrate that tolerance variably occurs. ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/19 "2011-08-23T13:26:02Z")
Frustratingly, there are studies stating that caffeine improves brain function, and there are others saying it does nothing. One such study in that review states that withdrawal has no negative effect on mental performance, yet many sources say caffeine only reverses the effects of it’s own withdrawal symptoms. I think based on evidence I will continue to be decaf, even though I only do so for medical reasons. ---
**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453/20 "2011-08-23T15:06:49Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > A lot of people I know get headaches if they don’t drink caffeine every day. I’m one of them. I can go one day without caffeine and not get that splitting headache, but not two. I’ve found that in my case a cup of coffee a day keeps the headaches away. I like coffee, so that’s not a hardship. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edited-title-is-caffeine-bad-for-you/593453.md?page=2)