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Caffeine Consumption Its Effects On The
Caffeine Consumption Its Effects On The
______________________________
A Research Paper
Presented to
Department of English
______________________________
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements
in English 2
by
Ramirez, Camille M.
Silva, Maricar C.
Introduction
the society today. In a glance of the remnants of the past up to the contemporary world
in the present, intake of caffeinated foods is indeed a trend among people of all ages.
Known for its stimulating effects, caffeine is consumed by individuals for its induction of
chocolates and teas are examples of caffeine-enriched foods that are widely consumed
by many.
Intake of foods comes with either beneficial or adverse effects. In the light of
knowing the outcomes of caffeine consumption, the research study will be conducted,
also in order to garner more knowledge about the effects of caffeine intake especially on
specifically the survey research. The researchers will randomly select thirty (30) second
year BS Medical Technology students of Far Eastern University as respondents who will
be asked to answer a five (5) item questionnaire regarding their daily intake of
caffeinated foods and its effects on them. All the data will be treated confidentially and
will only be used for the purpose of assessing and analyzing the effects of caffeine
consumption.
Background of the Study
Humans have consumed caffeine since the Stone Age. Early people found that
chewing the seeds, bark, or leaves of certain plants had the effects of easing fatigue,
stimulating awareness, and elevating mood. Only much later was it found that the effect
of caffeine was increased by steeping such plants in hot water. Many cultures have
legends that attribute the discovery of such plants to people living many thousands of
years ago.
reputed to have reigned in about 3,000 BC, accidentally discovered that when some
leaves fell into boiling water, a fragrant and restorative drink resulted. Shennong is also
The early history of coffee is obscure, but a popular myth traces its discovery to
Kaldi observed goats that became elated and sleepless at night after browsing on
coffee shrubs and, upon trying the berries that the goats had been eating, experienced
the same vitality. The earliest literary mention of coffee may be a reference to Bunchum
in the works of the 9th century Persian physician al-Razi. In 1587, Malaye Jaziri
compiled a work tracing the history and legal controversies of coffee, entitled "Umdat al
safwa fi hill al-qahwa". In this work, Jaziri recorded that one Sheikh, Jamal-al-Din al-
Dhabhani, mufti of Aden, was the first to adopt the use of coffee in 1454, and that in the
15th century the Sufis of Yemen routinely used coffee to stay awake during prayers.
Towards the close of the 16th century, the use of coffee was recorded by a
European resident in Egypt, and about this time it came into general use in the Near
East. The appreciation of coffee as a beverage in Europe, where it was first known as
"Arabian wine," dates from the 17th century. During this time "coffee houses" were
established, the first being opened in Constantinople and Venice. In Britain, the first
coffee houses were opened in London in 1652, at St Michael's Alley, Cornhill. They
soon became popular throughout Western Europe, and played a significant role in
The kola nut, like the coffee berry and tea leaf, appears to have ancient origins. It
vitality and ease hunger pangs. In 1911, kola became the focus of one of the earliest
documented health scares when the US government seized 40 barrels and 20 kegs of
Coca-Cola syrup in Chattanooga, Tennessee, alleging that the caffeine in its drink was
"injurious to health". On March 13, 1911, the government initiated The United States vs.
Forty Barrels and Twenty Kegs of Coca-Cola, hoping to force Coca-Cola to remove
caffeine from its formula by making exaggerated claims, such as that the excessive use
of Coca-Cola at one girls' school led to "wild nocturnal freaks, violations of college rules
and female proprieties, and even immoralities." Although the judge ruled in favor of
Coca-Cola, two bills were introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1912 to
amend the Pure Food and Drug Act, adding caffeine to the list of "habit-forming" and
The earliest evidence of cocoa use comes from residue found in an ancient
Mayan pot dated to 600 BC. In the New World, chocolate was consumed in a bitter and
spicy drink called Xocoatl, often seasoned with vanilla, chile pepper, and achiote.
Xocoatl was believed to fight fatigue, a belief that is probably attributable to the
theobromine and caffeine content. Chocolate was an important luxury good throughout
beverage by 1700. They also introduced the cacao tree into the West Indies and the
Philippines. It was used in alchemical processes, where it was known as Black Bean.
The first coffee house in Europe was opened Paris in the 1800s by an French-
Armenian named Pascal. Armenian merchants played in role in the more modern
history of coffee and this is the reason why the coffee growing region in is named the
Armenia Region of Columbia. In 1819, the German chemist Friedrich Ferdinand Runge
isolated relatively pure caffeine for the first time. According to a legend, he did this at
the behest of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Today, global consumption of caffeine has
been estimated at 120,000 tons per annum, making it the world's most popular
for every person, per day. In North America, 90% of adults consume some amount of
caffeine daily.
Source: http://www.scienceofcooking.com/caffeine.htm
Statement of the Problem
the academic performance of the Far Eastern University Second Year BS Medical
Technology Students.
problems:
1. What is caffeine?
caffeine?
6. How does caffeine affect the academic performance of the second year
the Academic performance of the FEU second year BS Medical Technology students.
Readers. The study will provide them additional information about the bane and
boons of caffeine once ingested. With this knowledge, the readers will now have an
Students. This research will serve as a reference or guide for the students in
regulating their caffeine intake. Also, it will further broaden their knowledge and serve as
ratings.
Science Community. This study will provide information about the effects of
caffeine which will help in saving the efforts in conducting studies and the like.
Future Researchers. This study will serve as a reference point and additional
performance of the respondents, who are selected Far Eastern University second year
BS Medical Technology students. The data that will be gathered so as the findings will
provide new knowledge on consumption of foods and its bane and boon on human
For better understanding of this research paper, the following terms are
defined operationally.
agreement on how it is best tested or which aspects are most important — procedural
Caffeine is a Central Nervous System stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate, cola
Chocolate is a processed, typically sweetened food produced from the seed of the
tropical Theobroma cacao tree. It can be made into a hot chocolate drink, chocolate
Coffee is a brewed beverage prepared from the roasted seeds of several species of an
gain weight (usually in the form of muscle). Diets can also be used to maintain a stable
body weight.
Diuretic is any substance that tends to increase the flow of urine, which causes the
maintaining the living state of the cells and the organism. Metabolism can be
obtain energy; and Anabolism - the synthesis of all compounds needed by the cells
Soft drink (also called soda, pop, coke, soda pop, fizzy drink, tonic, seltzer, mineral,
contains water (often, but not always, carbonated water), usually a sweetener, and
usually a flavoring agent. The sweetener may be sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, fruit
juice, sugar substitutes (in the case of diet drinks) or some combination of these. Soft
these kinds of effects may include enhanced alertness, wakefulness, and locomotion,
among others. Due to their effects typically having an "up" quality to them, stimulants
are also occasionally referred to as For the better understanding of this research paper,
Tea is an aromatic beverage commonly prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over
cured leaves of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. After water, tea is the most widely
A. BOOKS
Ballard, D.R. et al. (2011) Contemporary Women’s Health: Issues for Today and
the Future (pp. 343-346) The McGraw Hill Companies Inc. New York.
B. THESES/DISSERTATIONS
C. ONLINE SOURCES
http://www.rochester.edu/uns/healthtopics/nutrition/files/caffeine.pdf
http://www.creationconcepts.org/resources/caffeine.pdf
http://www.sciencecooking.com/caffeine.htm
Chapter II
This chapter presents the review of related literature and studies. The
researchers read authors/writings both local and foreign set up that have direct bearing
Related Literature
drugs in the world, consumed by up to 90% of people in the world in one form or
(http://www.rochester.edu/uns/healthtopics/nutrition/files/caffeine.pdf)
Drinking beverages containing caffeine in the afternoon or evening may interfere with
sleep. The world's primary source of caffeine is the coffee bean (the seed of the coffee
plant), from which coffee is brewed. Caffeine content in coffee varies widely depending
on the type of coffee bean and the method of preparation used; even beans within a
given bush can show variations in concentration. In general one serving of coffee
espresso to about 100 milligrams for strong drip coffee. Generally, dark-roast coffee has
less caffeine than lighter roasts because the roasting process reduces the bean's
p. 1171
the stomach and small intestine within 45 minutes of ingestion. After ingestion it is
distributed throughout all tissues of the body and is eliminated by first-order kinetics.
The half-life of caffeine, the time required for the body to eliminate one-half of the
total amount of caffeine consumed at a given time varies widely among individuals
medications, and the level of enzymes in the liver needed for caffeine metabolism. In
healthy adults, caffeine's half-life is approximately 3-4 hours. In women taking oral
roughly 9-11 hours. Caffeine can accumulate in individuals with severe liver disease
when its half-life can increase to 96 hours. In infants and young children, the half-life
may be longer than in adults; half-life in a newborn baby may be as long as 30 hours.
Other factors such as smoking can shorten caffeine's half-life. (Black, 2005): p. 209; p.
567
plants like cocoa beans, tea leaves and kola nuts. (Sinko, 2006): p. 283
With regard to caffeine, concerns have been raised about the rising popularity of
caffeinated soft drinks and potential heavy use by some children. Indeed, caffeine use
among children and adolescents can affect the amount of sleep they obtain and may
children in the United States, however, remain within ranges usually considered to have
indicates that a majority of investigations have utilized in vitro animal or insect skeletal
muscle tissue. The following summary of research involves nonhuman muscle tissue
which will be followed by studies of maximal voluntary contractions in humans under the
90% of all Americans. Called the “gentle stimulant” because it is thought to be the least
harmful of the entire additive drug, caffeine can still lead to “caffeine use disorders”.
Small doses can elevate your mood and decrease fatigue. In larger doses, it can make
you feel jittery and can cause insomnia. Because caffeine takes a relatively long time to
leave our bodies, sleep can disturbed if the caffeine is ingested in hours close to bed
time.
As with the other psychoactive drugs, react variously to caffeine; some are very
sensitive to it and others can consume relatively large amounts with little effects. Recent
researches suggest that moderate intake of caffeine will not cause any harm to a
nervous system processing, increasing physical and mental activity. Stimulants may
reactions. Caffeine can use tremor, sinus tachycardia, and heightened attentiveness.
possibility.
animals. Adverse effects may also occur when a patient abruptly discontinuous use of
or headache.
lithium, and MAOI’s. Caffeine may also interact with grapefruit juice.
Intermittent therapy or short term is what caffeine is often indicated. When
caffeine is used for respiratory depression, or neonatal apnea, monitor the patient’s vital
signs carefully. When administering caffeine for migraine or other types of headaches,
Conversely, also monitor for signs of withdrawal. (Venable, 2009): pp. 369, 981
Caffeine is probably the most overlooked cause of insomnia. Caffeine causes the
decline in total sleep time, decreased deep sleep, and a decrease in dream sleep. The
poor sleep at night results in daytime grogginess and a tendency to consume more and
more caffeine during the day, increasing the vicious cycle. Caffeine is found in a variety
of preparations. 6 ounces of a Hershey bar has 25 mg, 1 once of espresso has 40 mg, 8
ounces of brewed tea has 50 mg, 20 ounces of Coca Cola has 57 mg, 12 ounces of
brewed coffee has 200 mg, and 64 ounces of a Mountain Dew has 294 mg. (Walker,
stimulant and affects the cardiac muscle, kidneys and possibly certain glands. Small
amounts of caffeine may alter blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and metabolic
rate. Further physiological responses may include increased urine production and
investigation on foveal simultaneous contrast using a small circular test field surrounded
by an inducing annulus (multiplefield), Kleman and associates found that caffeine not
threshold, Diamond and Cole found that 1.5 and 3.0 grains of caffeine significantly
decreased visual threshold luminance when compared with a control group. Diamond
and Cole suggested that caffeine causes the 'on' visual pathways to become more
sensitive to light and that the threshold decreases correspondingly to the increase of the
dose.
task after it was no longer novel. Administering doses of 32, 64, 128, and 256 mg
caffeine, Lieberman et al. found significantly improved auditory vigilance and visual
reaction time as a result of all of the higher doses of caffeine. Additionally, no adverse
The stimulating properties of caffeine have traditionally been used to delay sleep
and to promote alertness. One of the earliest investigations demonstrated that caffeine
at moderately large doses stimulated mental activity. Graf also concluded that caffeine
was a strong neural stimulant suitable for improving physical and mental efficiency.
found: caffeine prolonged the time required to fall asleep; caffeine disturbed the
soundness of sleep; and caffeine-tolerant individuals were distinctly less affected by the
drug. Another study involving caffeine and cognitive performance indicated caffeine to
(Bloom, 2009; Dauncey, 2009; Kazal, 2002; Shariff, Bond, & Johnson, 2000). Moreover,
This study will utilize the Quantitative Research, specifically the non-
experimental, survey research. The Survey Research involves the use of questionnaires
and interviews as tools for the data gathering. This type of research permits the
Research Locale
Philippines. This will be performed in the month of August, first semester of school year
2013-2014.
Description of Respondents
The totalities of the respondents that will be involved in the study are Second
Year BS Medical Technology students from Far Eastern University. Specifically, fifteen
(15) males and fifteen (15) females with ages raging from 16-18 years old will be
The researchers will randomly select/choose thirty (15 females and 15 males)
Far Eastern University Second Year BS Medical Technology students with ages raging
from 16-18 years old. These random sampling will be asked to answer a questionnaire
regarding their caffeine intake and its effects on their academic performances. The
collected data will then be assessed and tabulated. From careful observation upon the
This chapter presents the data analysis and presentation of the results. This
chapter explicated the details of the survey results and precise visuals of the responses
tabular form and subsequently discussed and analyzed textually consistent with the
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It is one of the most popular drugs in the
world, consumed by up to 90% of people in the world in one form or another, but mostly
beverages. (http://www.rochester.edu/uns/healthtopics/nutrition/files/caffeine.pdf)
(84%), theobromine (12%), and theophylline (4%). (Black, 2005): p. 209; p. 567
plants like cocoa beans, tea leaves and kola nuts. (Sinko, 2006): p. 283
reactions. Caffeine can use tremor, sinus tachycardia, and heightened attentiveness.
possibility.
Cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, and delirium are possible after deliberate
animals. Adverse effects may also occur when a patient abruptly discontinuous use of
or headache.
lithium, and MAOI’s. Caffeine may also interact with grapefruit juice.
caffeine is used for respiratory depression, or neonatal apnea, monitor the patient’s vital
signs carefully. When administering caffeine for migraine or other types of headaches,
Conversely, also monitor for signs of withdrawal. (Venable, 2009): pp. 369, 981
Caffeine is probably the most overlooked cause of insomnia. Caffeine causes the
decline in total sleep time, decreased deep sleep, and a decrease in dream sleep. The
poor sleep at night results in daytime grogginess and a tendency to consume more and
more caffeine during the day, increasing the vicious cycle. Caffeine is found in a variety
of preparations. 6 ounces of a Hershey bar has 25 mg, 1 once of espresso has 40 mg, 8
ounces of brewed tea has 50 mg, 20 ounces of Coca Cola has 57 mg, 12 ounces of
brewed coffee has 200 mg, and 64 ounces of a Mountain Dew has 294 mg. (Walker,
Drinking beverages containing caffeine in the afternoon or evening may interfere with
indicates that a majority of investigations have utilized in vitro animal or insect skeletal
muscle tissue. The following summary of research involves nonhuman muscle tissue
which will be followed by studies of maximal voluntary contractions in humans under the
Small doses can elevate your mood and decrease fatigue. In larger doses, it can
make you feel jittery and can cause insomnia. Because caffeine takes a relatively long
time to leave our bodies, sleep can disturbed if the caffeine is ingested in hours close to
bed time.
As with the other psychoactive drugs, react variously to caffeine; some are very
sensitive to it and others can consume relatively large amounts with little effects. Recent
researches suggest that moderate intake of caffeine will not cause any harm to a
nervous system processing, increasing physical and mental activity. Stimulants may
provide temporary feelings of alertness and suppress appetite. Caffeine and
Table 1 show that there is an equal distribution among the male and female with
respondents is intentionally made equal on both male and female, thus making further
data analysis for the two categories comparable. In terms of age group, the respondents
are equally divided amongst the 3 age groups of 16, 17 and 18.
Second Year BS Medical Technology students with ages ranging from 16 to 18 years
old. They were given a four-item questionnaire regarding their caffeine intake and its
SURVEY RESULTS
MALE FEMALE
2-3 times a day 8 2
2-3 times a week 10 19
2-3 times a month 7 4
Never 0 0
TOTAL: 25 25
MALE FEMALE
Pressure/ Stress 4 1
Celebration 6 1
Leisure 4 5
Health Purposes 3 1
Stimulant 8 17
TOTAL: 25 25
3. Before doing any academic activity such as exams/quizzes, how much caffeinated
MALE FEMALE
A little 7 5
Moderate 7 13
A lot 3 2
Not at all 8 5
TOTAL: 25 25
4. On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest and 1 being the lowest, rate the
a. Exams or Quizzes 1 2 3 4 5
MALE 1 6 10 7 1
FEMALE 2 2 10 9 2
b. Recitation 1 2 3 4 5
MALE 2 9 13 1 0
FEMALE 2 4 15 3 1
c. Projects/Assignments 1 2 3 4 5
MALE 1 8 8 7 1
FEMALE 3 2 13 5 2
d. Comprehension of
Current Topics in 1 2 3 4 5
Subjects
MALE 2 7 10 6 0
FEMALE 3 2 12 8 0
CHAPTER V
Summary
Caffeine consumption truly has become a trend among people of all ages.
Caffeine is found in a wide range of foods that are regularly consumed by humans.
Popular examples of these caffeinated foods would be coffee and chocolates. Caffeine
in dominance it was known for its stimulating effects that induct temporary
improvements in either mental or physical functions of the body. In the light of knowing
the beneficial and adverse effects of caffeine consumption, especially in the aspect of
academic performances, this research was conducted. This research will be beneficial
90% of all Americans. Called the “gentle stimulant” because it is thought to be the least
harmful of the entire additive drug, caffeine can still lead to “caffeine use disorders”.
Small doses can elevate your mood and decrease fatigue. In larger doses, it can make
you feel jittery and can cause insomnia. Because caffeine takes a relatively long time to
leave our bodies, sleep can disturbed if the caffeine is ingested in hours close to bed
time. As with the other psychoactive drugs, react variously to caffeine; some are very
sensitive to it and others can consume relatively large amounts with little effects. Recent
researches suggest that moderate intake of caffeine will not cause any harm to a
experimental, survey research. The study was conducted in Far Eastern University,
located at Nicanor Reyes St. Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines. It was performed on the
month of August, first semester of school year 2013-2014. The researchers used survey
questionnaires as tools for this study. The researchers randomly selected fifty (50)
FEU Second Year BS Medical Technology students. Specifically, the respondents were
25 males and 25 females, with ages ranging from 16 to 18 years old. They were asked
to answer questionnaires regarding their caffeine intake and its effects on them. From
The gathered data were all tabulated for an efficient and easy analysis and
assessment. The problems stated in Chapter 1 were answered with the help of the
results of the survey conducted. Graphs and charts were made to make a clearer and
more efficient presentation of the data gathered and the tallied results. To be able to
assess the results fairly, specific statistical tests were utilized. In the case of this study,
standard deviation was used. The tallied results shown that in terms of intake
caffeinated food and beverages, female and male Medical Technology students usually
topples over the number of male medical technology students in terms of their rate of
caffeine consumption.
Conclusions were drawn after tallying and assessing the results of the conducted
survey. The researchers concluded that caffeine consumption brings about moderate
beneficial effects especially with the success in the academic performance of the FEU
Based from the data gathered and the assessed results, the following were concluded:
Female and Male Medical Technology students usually intake caffeinated food
students topples over the number of male medical technology students in terms
and beverages, the researchers derived from the results that the respondents are
more prone to consume caffeinated food and beverages as a form of stimulant to
energize their day and are least likely to intake caffeine for health purposes.
Basing from the results, on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest and 1 being
the lowest, the rate the effectiveness of caffeine in the success of the following
tackled.
Recommendations
Basing upon the gathered data from the survey distributed to 50 FEU Sophomore
Medical Technology students, the researchers would like to recommend the following:
for them to fully grasp the written questions and increase the possibility of the
questionnaire. Specially, the unfamiliar terms which are presented in the survey
questions.
testing the effects of caffeine. The use of these animals (with the
animals in research) can drastically help in the accuracy and further expanding
the coverage of the discoveries/data about caffeine and its effects because:
They are used for studying how animals’ and humans’ bodies
function.
environment.
to lessen the percentage of human error that will occur in the results.
Have a much more suitable number of samples (unlike our limited number of
samples); the more the better. As the quantity of the random sample of people
increase, the amount of precision and accuracy of results will increase as well.