The influence of caffeine on tumour incidence in Sprague-Dawley rats

Food-grade natural caffeine was given in the drinking-water (available ad lib.) to barrier-maintained specified-pathogen free Sprague-Dawley rats for 2 yr. Groups of 50 animals per sex received levels of 200, 430, 930 and 2000 mg caffeine/litre, while two control groups, each of 50 animals per sex, received plain water. No unusual tumours or sites of origin for neoplastic growth were found in any animal receiving caffeine. Neoplasms found in various organs showed incidences not exceeding those seen in controls. Thus, exposure to caffeine for 2 yr did not enhance or induce neoplasia in the Sprague-Dawley rats.