Caffeine Anhydrous

What is Caffeine Anhydrous?

caffeine molecule

Caffeine Molecule

Everyone has heard of caffeine, be it as a major part of your morning routine or as a key ingredient in your favourite soft drink.

This famous compound is an alkaloid and a stimulant drug. Alkaloids are a class of naturally occurring compounds whose defining characteristic is the fact that they are largely comprised of nitrogen atoms.

This is reflected in caffeine’s chemical formula, which is C8H10N4O2 .  Similarly, caffeine’s systemic (scientific) name is 1, 3, 7-Trimethyl -1H– purine-2, 6 (3H, 7H)- dione 3, 7- Dihydro-1, 3, 7- trimethyl – 1H– purine-2, 6- dione.

The substance is classified by the FDA in the United States as a GRAS substance (Generally Regarded As Safe). This is largely because the toxic dose is much higher than the dose generally consumed by humans.

The average toxicity range is 20-40mg/kg of bodyweight [1, 2]. So a toxic dose of caffeine for a person that weighs 200 pounds is 1.8 to 3.6 grams of caffeine. This is exceptionally high and as such caffeine toxicity is of little concern to the average consumer. An average cup of coffee contains 95mg of caffeine. This means you would have to consume at least 19 cups of coffee before approaching toxic levels.

The supplement variant of the substance is generally sold as caffeine anhydrous. Anhydrous is a chemical term that means the substance is devoid of water, and this refers in particular to water of crystallisation.

Caffeine Anhydrous Health Benefits

coffee is a common source of caffeine

Coffee contains around 95mg of caffeine per cup

Caffeine is renowned all over the world for its famous stimulant effects. Its ability to keep those who consume it alert and focused has made it the favourite beverage of students and workers alike. Caffeine has other benefits associated with it, however, including the following:

  • Caffeine can improve memory uptake and recollection, both long term and short term. For this reason, there is some evidence to show that caffeine is also useful for people suffering from degenerative brain diseases [3].
  • Caffeine can help replenish muscle structures following exercise, especially if it is combined with carbohydrates [4].
  • Caffeine can act against free radicals in the body. Free radicals are thought to damage and kill cells, so actively resisting them is a fantastic benefit [5].
  • There is evidence to support the fact that caffeine increases metabolic rate, which is an important part of healthy living and useful to people trying to lose weight [6, 7].
  • The risk of developing type 2 diabetes can be reduced through consuming caffeine [8, 9, 10].
  • High consumption of caffeine over long periods of time can curb the chances of developing certain cardiovascular illnesses [11].
  • Caffeine has both been shown to reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, and also can be used to alleviate some of the motor problems that are associated with the disease [12].
  • Caffeine can act as a mood enhancing substance by increasing the levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure, in the brain [13].
  • Caffeine can have positive effects on various eye related ailments including reducing the likelihood of developing cataracts in later life [14].

Most people who use anhydrous caffeine as a supplement use it for its stimulating effects. It aids in information uptake and retention, improves memory recollection, boosts focus and concentration, and improves mood. All of these make it an appealing nootropic in its own right, but it is important not to forget the host of auxiliary benefits above that come along with it.

As is the case with any new supplement, anyone considering taking anhydrous caffeine as part of their daily routine should consider a medical professional before doing so. This is to ensure that the correct dose is given and to ensure that it is not going to negatively interact with any other medication that the consumer may be taking at the time.

In general, the positive effects associated with caffeine are best seen in frequent caffeine consumers and long term consumers.

Caffeine Anhydrous Potential Side Effects

caffeine anhydrous headaches

Excessive caffeine anhydrous consumption or abrupt cessation can cause headaches

As stated above, caffeine is classed as a GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) compound, but this does not mean that it is free of negative side effects.

2017 UPDATE: The FDA is reconsidering its position on caffeine being include in the GRAS database.

Most caffeine powder on the market has been pulled since 2016.

People consuming caffeine on a regular basis, such as a part of a supplement plan or stack, may experience some of the following negative effects:

  • High doses of caffeine can cause anxiety in consumers [15].
  • Some gastrointestinal problems, namely diarrhoea, are associated with consuming large quantities of caffeine [16].
  • If it is used non-habitually, caffeine can cause shaking in consumers. This is usually mild, but any loss of motor control should be regarded with a degree of concern [15]. Many people can mitigate this issue by taking caffeine with theanine, an anxiolytic supplement that synergizes well with caffeine [17].
  • Caffeine, as a side effect of its stimulating effects, can result in insomnia and poor sleep [15]. This can upset the circadian rhythm (sense of day and night) and result in depression, anxiety and fatigue, so caffeine should not be taken at night.
  • Consumption of caffeine can cause headaches, generally as a result of dehydration [16].
  • Caffeine is addictive, and withdrawal from it can exacerbate some of these negative side effects [18].

Anhydrous Caffeine Reviewed

All in all, caffeine is a largely safe compound with minor side effects. In addition to this, it boasts of a plethora of benefits, ranging from alertness, wakefulness and, concentration to reducing the risk of and alleviating the symptoms of some illnesses in later life. It also improves the general mood of anyone who uses it [12, 19].

More than half of Americans over the age of eighteen drink coffee every single day, and it’s easy to see why. For these reasons, getting yourself some anhydrous supplements could benefit you greatly.

Sources:

  1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2986418
  2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16371327
  3. http://health.usf.edu/nocms/publicaffairs/now/pdfs/JAD111781.pdf
  4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2824625
  5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21438616
  6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8061728
  7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7369170
  8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15105411
  9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14706966
  10. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20147471
  11. http://circheartfailure.ahajournals.org/content/early/2012/06/26/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.112.967299.abstract
  12. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20182024
  13. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12093592
  14. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3002968/
  15. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002445.htm
  16. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-979-CAFFEINE.aspx?activeIngredientId=979&activeIngredientName=CAFFEINE
  17. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3042794/
  18. http://neuroscience.jhu.edu/griffiths%20papers/CaffwdReview.2004.pdf
  19. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1401080/pdf/brjclinpharm00126-0080.pdf