Effects of a naturally occurring caffeine product delivered orally on rate of caffeine absorption and associated metabolic parameters in the bovine neonate

Abstract

A significant amount of published research has been conducted in the field of human medicine investigating the therapeutic effects of administering caffeine to infants. Consequently, caf­feine is very commonly used as a stimulant, particularly in the NICU. However, little work exists investigating the applica­tion of caffeine in bovine neonates, specifically those with low vigor. The study objectives were first to determine absorption rate and subsequent blood concentration of caffeine in calves administered a viscous oral product containing naturally oc­curring caffeine (Calf Perk®, TechMix LLC, Stewart, MN). The second objective was to determine if caffeine alters any associ­ated effects on metabolic variables of the calf such as circulat­ing glucose, insulin and NEFA concentrations.