According to the article by Hall (2017), caffeine has different effects on our bodies, especially the brain, acting as the primary site of action. Moderate consumption of coffee has beneficial outcomes due to rich antioxidants such as polyphenols and hydrocinnamic acids. Hall asserts that most people who consume coffee on a regular have developed a tolerance for caffeine. The addictive effects of caffeine are evident from the decreased norepinephrine (a hormone that is responsible for the alertness). The decreased production of norepinephrine leads to the insatiable craving of coffee. Another plausible reason people react differently to coffee is due to genetics. Caffeine binds to the adenosine receptors bringing out a relaxed feeling. The brain’s sensitivity to caffeine varies from one individual to another, depending on the available adenosine receptors.
Moreover, drug-to-drug interactions such as certain antibiotics can influence the metabolism of caffeine, increasing its bioavailability. The lasting effects of caffeine can be attributed to an underlying condition such as anxiety disorder. The psychoactive effects of caffeine aggravate anxiety and panic disorders. The difference in the processing of caffeine depends on genetics, gender, and interaction with other drugs taken. The concentration of Cytochrome P450 enzymes in the liver accounts for 90% clearance of caffeine. Individuals with a higher concentration of these enzymes can drink more than one coffee cup without noticing any stimulating effects.
My personal experiences with coffee resonate with some of the ideas presented in the article. Drinking a coffee cup cannot affect my alertness level, and I would induce sleep naturally at night. I have a high tolerance for caffeine; therefore, I need at least two or more cups to maintain alertness. One of the factors that surprised me was caffeine’s competitive effects for the adenosine receptor. Adenosine plays an instrumental role in facilitating sleep through blood vessel dilation. Caffeine is the adenosine-receptor antagonist that competes with adenosine for the same receptors. The activation of the neural circuits in the brain initiates a cascade, leading to epinephrine production and norepinephrine production.
My response to coffee may be attributed to tolerance, which has been raised in the article. The stimulating effect of coffee is derived from each cup consumed, and tolerance can be built gradually depending on genetic and biological processes. Caffeine dependency can be noted from the withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sleepiness, and headaches. Caffeine dependency stems from the increased production of dopamine from the pleasure circuits of the brain. Other food-related chemicals which cause competitive inhibition are theobromine and theophylline (active compounds found in tea). Theophylline and theobromine cause a relaxing effect on the body, with both compounds stimulating the brain. These compounds act as caffeine metabolites during the metabolism process.