[Side effects of caffeine].

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Toxicology
• Nutritional Science
• Human Genetics

Background:

• Caffeine, a widely consumed alkaloid in beverages and foods, has been linked to various health outcomes.
• Published data indicates potential risks including coronary heart disease, hypertension, arterial stiffness, and altered lipid and homocysteine levels.
• Acute high caffeine intake may affect insulin sensitivity and blood glucose, while long-term consumption is associated with reduced type 2 diabetes incidence.

Discussion:

• High caffeine doses can lead to central nervous system overstimulation, reduced lower esophageal sphincter tone, and increased risks of miscarriage and intrauterine growth retardation.
• The manifestation and severity of adverse caffeine reactions are significantly influenced by individual genetic makeup.
• Genetic polymorphisms in caffeine-metabolizing enzymes, such as cytochrome P450-CYP1A2 and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), play a crucial role in determining individual responses.

Key Insights:

• Caffeine intake has dose-dependent effects on cardiovascular health and metabolic parameters.
• Individual genetic variations, particularly in CYP1A2 and COMT genes, dictate susceptibility to caffeine's adverse effects.
• Long-term moderate caffeine consumption may offer protective benefits against type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Outlook:

• Further research into genotype-specific caffeine metabolism can personalize dietary recommendations.
• Investigating the precise mechanisms underlying caffeine's long-term metabolic benefits is warranted.
• Developing strategies to mitigate caffeine-induced side effects based on genetic profiling is a potential future direction.