Coffee Addiction

BIOLOGY INVESTIGATORY PROJECT 2019-20

Shri Rithanya B | XII A

Index
I. Introduction to Coffee 2
a. History 2
b. Species 4

II. Caffeine 5
a. Positive Effects 7
b. Adverse Effects 7

III. Coffee & Health 9

a. Advantages 9
b. Disadvantages 10

IV. Addiction 12
a. Case Study 13

V. Conclusion 15

VI. References & Sources 16

PAGE 1
What is Coffee?
To put it in simple words, Coffee is a brewed hot or cold
beverage enjoyed by the whole world in one form or the other.
Coffee of the family Rubiaceae, native to tropical regions of Asia
and the South Americas, produces seeds which are widely known
as coffee beans. These contain a large amount of caffeine in them
and have a distinct sweet taste and are often juiced. Coffee is
darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic and has
a stimulating effect in humans, primarily due to
its caffeine content. It can be prepared and presented in various
many ways. Coffee is usually served hot, but serving it iced is also
an alternative.

History
While coffee is native to Ethiopia and Sudan, the earliest credible
evidence of coffee-drinking as the modern beverage appears in
modern-day Yemen in southern Arabia in the middle of the 15th
century in Sufi shrines. It was in what is now Yemen that coffee
seeds were first roasted and brewed in a manner similar to how it
is now prepared for drinking. But the coffee seeds had to be first
exported from East Africa to Yemen, as Coffee Arabica is thought
to have been indigenous to the former. The Yemenis obtained
their coffee via Somali traders from Berbera, who in turn
procured the beans from the Ethiopian Highlands, began to
cultivate the seed. By the 16th century, the drink had
reached Persia, Turkey, and North Africa. From there, it spread to

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Europe and the rest of the world.

Figure 1. Spread of Coffee

Rapid growth in coffee production in South America during the

second half of the 19th century was matched by growth in
consumption in developed countries, though nowhere has this
growth been as pronounced as in the United States, where a high
rate of population growth was compounded by doubling of per
capita consumption between 1860 and 1920. Though the United
States was not the heaviest coffee-drinking nation at the time
(Nordic countries, Belgium, and Netherlands all had comparable
or higher levels of per capita consumption), due to its sheer size, it
was already the largest consumer of coffee in the world by 1860,
and, by 1920, around half of all coffee produced worldwide was
consumed in the US.
Coffee has become a vital cash crop for many developing
countries. Over one hundred million people in developing

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countries have become dependent on coffee as their primary
source of income. It has become the primary export and
backbone for African countries like Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and
Ethiopia, as well as many Central American countries.

Species
All coffee plants are classified in the large family Rubiaceae. They
are evergreen shrubs or trees that may grow 5 m (15 ft.) tall when
unprimed. The leaves are dark green and glossy, usually 10–15 cm
(4–6 in) long and 6 cm (2.4 in) wide, simple, entire, and
opposite. Petioles of opposite leaves fuse at the base to form
interpetiolar stipules, characteristic of Rubiaceae. The flowers
are axillary, and clusters of fragrant white flowers bloom
simultaneously. Gynoecium consists of an inferior ovary, also
characteristic of Rubiaceae. The flowers are followed by oval
berries of about 1.5 cm (0.6 in). When
immature they are green, and they
ripen to yellow, then crimson, before
turning black on drying. Each berry
usually contains two seeds, but 5–10%
of the berries have only one; these are
called pea berries. Arabica berries
ripen in six to eight months, while
Robusta takes nine to eleven months.

Figure 2. Coffea Arabica

Caffeine

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 Figure 3(a). Caffeine Line Molecule Figure 3(b). Caffeine Molecule 3D

Guaranine methyl theobromine 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine theine or

in general, Caffeine, is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of
the methyl xanthine class. It is the world's most widely
consumed psychoactive drug. Unlike many other psychoactive
substances, it is legal and unregulated in nearly all parts of the
world. There are several known mechanisms of action to explain
the effects of caffeine. The most prominent is that it reversibly
blocks the action of adenosine on its receptor and consequently
prevents the onset of drowsiness induced by adenosine. Caffeine
also stimulates certain portions of the autonomic nervous system.
Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline purine, a methyl
xanthine alkaloid, and is chemically related to
the adenine and guanine bases of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
and ribonucleic acid (RNA). It is found in the seeds, nuts, or leaves
of a number of plants native to Africa, East Asia and South
America, and helps to protect them against predator insects and
to prevent germination of nearby seeds. The most well-known
source of caffeine is the coffee bean, a misnomer for the seed

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of Coffee plants. Beverages containing caffeine are ingested to
relieve or prevent drowsiness and to improve performance. To
make these drinks, caffeine is extracted by steeping the plant
product in water, a process called infusion. Caffeine-containing
drinks, such as coffee, tea, and cola, are very popular; as of 2014,
85% of American adults consumed some form of caffeine daily,
consuming 164 mg on average.

Table 1. Caffeine content among Caffeinated drinks

Positive Effects
 Cognitive- Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that
reduces fatigue and drowsiness. It has variable effects on learning and
memory, but it generally improves reaction time, wakefulness,

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 concentration, and motor coordination. Caffeine can delay or
prevent sleep and improves task performance during sleep
deprivation. For some people, discontinuing caffeine use can
significantly reduce anxiety. In moderate doses, caffeine has been
associated with reduced symptoms of depression and
lower suicide risk. Increased consumption of coffee and caffeine is
associated with a decreased risk of depression.
 Physical- Caffeine is a proven ergogenic aid in humans. Caffeine
improves athletic performance
in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Moderate doses of caffeine can
improve sprint performance, cycling and running time trial
performance, endurance and cycling power output. Caffeine
increases basal metabolic rate in adults. Caffeine improves muscular
strength and power, and may enhance muscular endurance. This is
congruent with caffeine reducing perceived exertion, because
exercise-to-exhaustion should end at the same point of fatigue.
Caffeine also improves power output and reduces time to completion
in aerobic time trials, an effect positively associated with longer
duration exercise.

Adverse Effects
 Physical- Caffeine can increase blood pressure and
cause vasoconstriction. Coffee and caffeine can affect gastrointestinal
motility and gastric acid secretion. Caffeine in low doses may cause
weak bronchodilation for up to four hours in asthmatics. Doses of
caffeine equivalent to the amount normally found in standard
servings of tea, coffee and carbonated soft drinks appear to have no
diuretic action. However, acute ingestion of caffeine in large doses (at
least 250–300 mg, equivalent to the amount found in 2–3 cups of
coffee or 5–8 cups of tea) results in a short-term stimulation of urine
output in individuals who have been deprived of caffeine for a period
of days or weeks. This increase is due to both a diuresis (increase in
water excretion) and a natriuresis (increase in saline excretion). The

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 acute increase in urinary output may increase the risk of dehydration.
However, chronic users of caffeine develop a tolerance to this effect
and experience no increase in urinary output.

 Psychological-Minor undesired symptoms from caffeine ingestion

not sufficiently severe to warrant a psychiatric diagnosis are common
and include mild anxiety, jitteriness, insomnia, increased sleep
latency, and reduced coordination. Caffeine can have negative effects
on anxiety disorders. According to a 2011 literature review, caffeine
use is positively associated with anxiety and panic disorders. At high
doses, typically greater than 300 mg, caffeine can both cause and
worsen anxiety. Some textbooks state that caffeine is a mild
euphoriant, others state that it is not. Caffeine-induced anxiety
disorder is a subclass of the DSM-5 diagnosis of
substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder.

Coffee & Health

Figure 4. Impact of Caffeine

Advantages
Drinking coffee is generally safe within usual levels of intake and is
more likely to improve health outcomes than to cause harm at

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doses of 3 or 4 cups of coffee daily. Exceptions include possible
increased risk in women having bone fractures, and a possible
increased risk in pregnant women of fetal loss or decreased birth
weight.
Coffee stimulates gallbladder contraction and aids in the
contraction of the colonic and intestinal smooth muscles. Because
of its acidity, it can harm the lining of the stomach and intestines,
and as a result can cause gastritis, stomach ulcers, and
promote acid reflux. Recent studies, both in vivo and in vitro,
suggest that coffee suppresses the proliferation of microbes,
including bacteria within the microbiome.
Research have shown that higher coffee consumption was
associated with lower risk of death, and that those who drank any
coffee lived longer than those who did not.
Moderate coffee consumption is not a risk factor for coronary
heart disease. A 2012 meta-analysis concluded that people who
drank moderate amounts of coffee had a lower rate of heart
failure, with the biggest effect found for those who drank more
than four cups a day. A 2014 meta-analysis concluded
that cardiovascular disease, such as coronary artery disease
and stroke, is less likely with three to five cups of non-
decaffeinated coffee per day, but more likely with over five cups
per day. A 2016 meta-analysis showed that coffee consumption
was associated with a reduced risk of death in patients who have
had a myocardial infarction. Drinking four or more cups of coffee
per day does not affect the risk of hypertension compared to
drinking little or no coffee; however, drinking one to three cups
per day may be at a slightly increased risk.

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Disadvantages
Bad quality coffee can have a lot of impurities in it, which can
cause sickness, headache or a general bad feeling. This can
happen if your coffee is made from beans that have been over
ripped or otherwise ruined. Even one ruined bean can make your
cup toxic. If you invest and buy high quality, specialty coffee you
don’t have to worry about this.
Yes, if you drink 80-100 cups (23 liters) in a short session. This
dose is lethal and will amount in 10-13 grams of caffeine within
your body. Before you reach this point, however, you'll be
vomiting most of it out since 23 liters of any liquid is a lot. Even
drinking 23 liters of water can kill you.
Again, it's the caffeine working here. Your recommended
maximum amount of caffeine is 400 milligrams, roughly the
amount that you’ll get from 4 cups of coffee. If you’re caffeine-
sensitive, be careful with coffee. You are probably already aware
what amount and what kind of coffee suits, or doesn't suit you.
The amount of caffeine that is safe for human consumption is
actually written in our DNA.

Studies on coffee's effect on a fetus have been controversial, but

one thing is sure: if you drink coffee when pregnant, caffeine will
also reach the fetus, and your baby is highly sensitive to caffeine.
So, if you’re a heavyweight coffee drinker and can’t stop drinking
it while pregnant, at least reduce your coffee intake to one cup a
day.

Coffee beans contain cafestol and kahweol, two ingredients that

appear to raise LDL cholesterol levels. Filtering the coffee traps
most of the LDL, but cafestol and kahweol are found in espresso,

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Turkish coffee, French press and Scandinavian style “cooked
coffee”.

Figure 5. Main side effects of Caffeine

Addiction
Caffeine's mechanism of action is somewhat different from that
of cocaine and the substituted amphetamines; caffeine
blocks adenosine receptors A and A2A. Adenosine is a by-product
of cellular activity, and stimulation of adenosine receptors

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produces feelings of tiredness and the need to sleep. Caffeine's
ability to block these receptors means the levels of the body's
natural stimulants, dopamine and norepinephrine, continue at
higher levels.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders describes four caffeine-related disorders
including intoxication, withdrawal, anxiety, and sleep.
Studies have demonstrated that people who take in a minimum of
100 mg of caffeine per day (about the amount in one cup of
coffee) can acquire a physical dependence that would trigger
withdrawal symptoms that include headaches, muscle pain and
stiffness, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, depressed mood, and
marked irritability. Professor Roland Griffiths, a professor of
neurology at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore strongly believes that
caffeine withdrawal should be classified as a psychological
disorder. His research suggested that withdrawals affects 50% of
habitual coffee drinkers, beginning within 12-24 hours after
cessation of caffeine intake, and peaking in 20-48 hours, lasting as
long as 9 days. Continued exposure to caffeine leads the body to
create more adenosine receptors in the central nervous system
which makes it more sensitive to the effects of adenosine in two
ways: It reduces the stimulatory effects of caffeine by increasing
tolerance, and it increases the withdrawal symptoms of caffeine
as the body becomes more sensitive to the effects of adenosine
once caffeine intake stops. Caffeine tolerance develops very
quickly. Tolerance to the sleep disruption effects of caffeine were
seen after consumption of 400 mg of caffeine 3 times a day for
7 days, whereas complete tolerance was observed after
consumption of 300 mg taken 3 times a day for 18 days.

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While caffeine users enjoy the increased energy and alertness
that caffeine gives them, unpleasant symptoms experienced by
many consumers, especially those who are addicted, include:

 Restlessness
 Nervousness
 Excitement
 Difficulty sleeping
 Agitation
 Muscle twitching
 Rambling flow of thoughts and speech
 Flushed face
 Increased heart rate
 Stomach upset

Case Study
A recent survey conducted in just the Counties of Albany, New
York with approximately 300,000 population. A sample survey on
175,648 people was conducted about their relations with Coffee
in just the year 2015.

It was found out that about 78.3% of people took coffee and out
of those around 51% drink it regularly, which is staggering half of
the whole population, including all ages.

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 CENSUS OF ALBANY COUNTY ON THE CONSUMPTION OF COFFEE
Twice or more
times a day Do not drink coffee
at all

Once a week

Everyday

Twice a week

3-4 times a week

Consumption Level Percentage Part of the

population
None 19.7% 34,602.65
1/week 9.5% 16,686.56
2/week 13.2% 23,185.53
3-4/week 14.6% 25,644.60
7/week 28.1% 49,357.08
14+/week 14.90% 26,171.55
Table 2. Case Study

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Conclusion
Caffeine addiction is so common we don't even notice it most of
the time. But the feeling of getting back in touch with your own
natural energy, and having the ability to relax when night falls, is
unparalleled when you able to greatly reduce or quit caffeine.

If you feel you are using excessive amounts of caffeine to cope

with an ongoing emotional problem, such as depression or
anxiety, also talk to your physician about options for treating
these problems. The right treatment could make a huge
difference for you. Caffeine addiction often overlaps with other
behavioral addictions, such as sugar addiction, so you might find
that evaluating your caffeine intake opens up a Pandora's Box of
other behaviors that need to be addressed.

If you don't feel you are addicted to caffeine, but you do feel you
are consuming more than is healthy, you can choose to either
reduce your caffeine intake or cut out caffeine altogether. The
most common mistake, in either case, is to cut down by too much
too soon, causing you to relapse due to an intense headache.

Instead of cutting your caffeine intake in half, try reducing your

regular intake by about 10 percent every two weeks; reduce the
strength of your last caffeinated drink of the day by diluting it
with an uncaffeinated drink.
So in a nutshell, Coffee is great for just a beverage with small
dosages but it can become a poison if you misuse it.

References & Sources

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 Notes
o Introduction to Coffee-
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee
o Introduction to Caffeine-
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine
o Effects of Caffeine-
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine
o Coffee and health
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee#Health_effects
o Disadvantages of Coffee-
 https://blog.warriorcoffee.com/blog/12-health-benefits-and-6-
disadvantages-of-coffee-smashing-it
o Addiction-
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine_dependence
 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
o Symptoms-
 https://www.verywellmind.com/caffeine-addiction-4157287
o Conclusion-
 https://www.verywellmind.com/caffeine-addiction-4157287

 Images
o Cover-
 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190624111622.
html
o Fig. 1, History Route of Coffee-
 Seeds of Trade. Source, Natural History Museum
o Fig. 2, Coffea arabica-
 Franz Eugen Köhler,
http://caliban.mpizkoeln.mpg.de/~stueber/koehler2/high/DSC_3
061.html
o Fig. 3(a), Caffeine(line)-
 www.pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
o Fig, 3(b), Caffeine(3D)-
 Jynto (more from this user) - Own work

o Table 1, Amount of Caffeine-

PAGE 16
  https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ah
UKEwi3r_D4-
o7kAhXIbX0KHVbZBHMQjhx6BAgBEAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fptop.only.wip.la%3A443%2Fhttps%2Forga
nic.org%2Fthe-health-benefits-and-drawbacks-of-
coffee%2F&psig=AOvVaw1QUKH9iZbkNCOoAiL-
wH6D&ust=1566304992903543
o Fig.4, Caffeine effects-
 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Caffeine-ingestion-has-acute-
effects-on-numerous-body-systems-including-the-
following_fig1_249646232
o Fig. 5, Main Side effects of Caffeine-
 https://www.positivehealthwellness.com/diet-nutrition/the-15-
terrible-coffee-side-effects-you-need-to-know-about/

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