Caffeine Reduction Research Articles

Agrobacterium-Mediated Silencing of Caffeine Synthesis through Root Transformation in Camellia sinensis L.

Tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] is a perennial and most popular non-alcoholic caffeine-containing beverage crop. Tea has several constraints for its genetic improvement such as its high polyphenolic content and woody perennial nature. The development of transgenic tea is very difficult, laborious, and time taking process. In tea, regeneration requires minimum 8-12 months. In view of this, attempt has been made in this article to develop a rapid, efficient, and quite economical Agrobacterium-mediated root transformation system for tea. The feasibility of the developed protocol has been documented through silencing caffeine biosynthesis. For this, one-month-old tea seedlings were exposed to fresh wounding at the elongation zone of roots and were inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens cultures carrying a RNAi construct (pFGC1008-CS). The pFGC1008-CS contained 376 bp of caffeine synthase (CS) cDNA fragment in sense and antisense direction with an intron in between. This has made the RNAi construct to produce a hairpin RNA (ihpRNA). The suppressed expression of CS gene and a marked reduction in caffeine and theobromine contents in young shoots of tea seedlings were obtained after root transformation through Agrobacterium infiltration. Such transformation system could be useful for functional analysis of genes in tea like woody and perennial plants.

Caffeine Intake During Pregnancy, Late Miscarriage, and Stillbirth

ABSTRACT Many obstetric guidelines recommend limitation of caffeine intake immediately before and during pregnancy, despite the lack of consistent evidence showing a clear benefit. Although some observational cohort studies have suggested that maternal caffeine intake may be associated with decreased birth weight and fetal growth restriction, in the only reported intervention trial, no substantial effect of caffeine reduction during the second half of pregnancy was found. Evidence for an association between consumption of caffeine and miscarriage earlier in pregnancy may be stronger, but there are no large well-conducted effectiveness trials. This prospective observational cohort study examined the association of maternal caffeine intake with late miscarriage and intrauterine fetal death (stillbirth), using a detailed caffeine assessment tool. The study population included 2643 pregnant singleton women, aged 18 to 45 years, between 8- and 12-weeks' gestation, who attended 2 UK maternity units between 2003 and 2006. Caffeine intake was assessed at different stages of pregnancy, and the pregnancies were monitored for the occurrence of late miscarriage and stillbirth. The data were adjusted for potential confounders, including alcohol intake and smoking status. Total caffeine intake was quantified from all possible sources in the first trimester and throughout pregnancy. The adjusted data showed a strong association between caffeine intake in the first trimester and subsequent late miscarriage between 12 and 24 weeks or stillbirth after 24 weeks. The geometric mean caffeine intake during the first trimester among women whose pregnancies resulted in late miscarriage or stillbirth was higher (145 mg/d, with a 95% confidence interval [CI] of 85–249) compared with those with live births (103 mg/d; with a 95% CI of 98–108). Compared to women with caffeine consumption of 100 mg/d, the adjusted odds ratio for late miscarriage or stillbirth increased to 2.2 (95% CI, 0.7–7.1) for ingestion between 100 and 199 mg/day, to 1.7 (0.4–7.1) for those taking between 200 and 299 mg/d, and to 5.1 (1.6–16.4) for those ingesting over 300 mg/d (Ptrend = 0.004). These findings from a small study suggest that increases in late miscarriage and stillbirth are associated with greater caffeine intake during pregnancy, and support observational evidence on which current guidelines are based.

Tea caffeine: Metabolism, functions, and reduction strategies

Tea is a product made up from topmost part of the plant Camellia sinensis. This part includes bud, first leaf (next to bud), second leaf, and stem (spanning from bud to second leaf). Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world, well ahead of coffee, beer, wine, and carbonated soft drinks. Clinical studies have demonstrated that one of the harmful effects of tea over consumption, at least in sensitive peoples is due to its caffeine content. In view of this, major points discussed in this article are the following: i) a brief overview on tea and its biochemical composition, ii) health effects of tea drink, iii) caffeine metabolism and its functions, iv) possible strategies for caffeine reduction in tea, and v) feasibility of tea improvement through biotechnological approaches.

Management of fluid intake in patients with overactive bladder

Overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome is a prevalent condition that affects millions of people worldwide. There is no curative treatment, and management is aimed at reducing symptoms and improving quality of life. Conservative treatment is first-line therapy for OAB sufferers, including lifestyle interventions, bladder training, and pelvic floor exercises. The evidence for lifestyle interventions in the form of fluid manipulation, weight reduction, and smoking cessation is limited. However, these interventions are cheap and simple and have health benefits. Until recently, the advice regarding fluid manipulation, in terms of volume and type, has been controversial. Increasing evidence suggests that reducing fluid intake can improve OAB symptoms, with a general consensus that caffeine reduction may be beneficial. Further clinical trials are needed on fluid manipulation in terms of the types of fluids drank, the timing of fluid intake, and the effects of exercise and outside ambient temperature on OAB symptoms.

The effects of lifestyle and behavioural interventions for urinary incontinence on mobility, physical activity and falls in older people: A comprehensive systematic review.

Review question and objectives This review will systematically examine the evidence to answer the question: • What are the effects of lifestyle and behavioural interventions used to treat urinary incontinence on mobility, physical activity and falls in older people? The key objectives to be addressed are: 1. To investigate the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for urinary incontinence on physical activity, mobility and falls in older people 2. To investigate the effectiveness of behavioural interventions to treat urinary incontinence on physical activity, mobility and falls in older people 3. To identify the experiences of older people regarding lifestyle and behavioural interventions for urinary incontinence on mobility, physical activity and falls. Types of participants Older people aged 60 years and over, males and females, with any type of urinary incontinence, diagnosed by symptom classification or urodynamic study. They may be community‐living, hospitalised or a care home resident. Types of interventions Lifestyle and behavioural interventions for urinary incontinence including but not limited to pelvic floor muscle training, bladder training, prompted voiding, habit retraining, timed voiding, fluid management, caffeine reduction, treatment of constipation, weight loss, tobacco reduction, alcohol reduction Types of outcome measures The primary outcomes for this review are a demonstrable improvement in mobility and/or physical activity and a reduction in the number of falls as the result of introducing lifestyle and behavioural interventions for urinary incontinence in the over 60s. Mobility outcome measures will include both subjective (including but not limited to self‐report of mobility, gait, Activities of Daily Living) and objective (including but not limited to Timed Up and Go, Gait or walking speed). Physical Activity outcome measures will include both subjective (e.g. self‐report questionnaires) and objective (e.g. body fixed sensor activity monitoring). Falls outcomes (rate or number of falls, or number of fallers) will ideally be measured using prospective daily calendars returned monthly for at least one year 22 however, falls outcome measurements in the included studies will vary and we will also include trials where falls were recorded retrospectively or not monitored continuously throughout the trial. TRUNCATED AT 350 WORDS

Behavioral Therapies for Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a symptom-based syndrome characterized by the presence of urgency, which is defined as a sudden and compelling desire to void that cannot be postponed. OAB may significantly impact of quality of life. Numerous treatment options exist for OAB, including behavioral therapies such as pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation, bladder training, and dietary modification, as well as traditional therapies such as pharmacological therapy and neuromodulation. Behavioral therapies are considered the mainstay of treatment for urinary incontinence in general. However the efficacy of these noninvasive strategies for OAB treatment has not been well addressed in the literature. This article presents an overview of current evidence with attention to the clinical relevance of findings related to lifestyle modification, bladder training, and pelvic floor muscle training. Initial evidence suggests that obesity, smoking, and consumption of carbonated drinks are risk factors for OAB but there is less support for the contributory role of caffeine or the impact of caffeine reduction. The evidence supporting bladder training and pelvic floor muscle training is more consistent and a trend towards combining these therapies to treat OAB appears positive. Given the prevalence of OAB and growing support for the efficacy of behavioral treatments it is important and timely to augment existing evidence with well-designed multicenter trials.

Nutritional and medicinal improvement of black tea by yeast fermentation

Black tea fermentation with Dabaryomyces hansenii for 10 days resulted in accumulation of major vitamins, such as A, B 1, B 2, B 12 and C in sufficient quantities to fulfil the recommended dietary allowances (RDA). Fermentation of tea by yeast resulted in reduction of caffeine and excess tannins in significant amounts. After fermentation, the amount of theophylline was increased to make fermented tea a potent bronchodilator. Tea fermentation with D. hansenii improved its nutritional and medicinal values. Our observations suggest that intake of fermented tea is advantageous over black tea in terms of its nutritive and therapeutic values.

The effect of caffeine reduction on sleep quality and well-being in persons with HIV

Objectives: With reports of high rates of sleep disruption in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) + persons, this study tested whether there were differences in sleep quality and well-being between a group of HIV+ persons who reduced their caffeine intake from baseline by 90% or greater for 30 days ( n=44) versus a group of HIV+ persons who continued their usual caffeine consumption ( n=44). Methods: Subjects were administered pre- and post-Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Perceived Well-being Scale-Revised (PWB-R) and MOS-HIV Health Survey instruments, with MOS-HIV summary scores used as a covariate. Results: On ANCOVA analysis for sleep quality ( F=14.032, P<.001), a 35% improvement in sleep among experimental subjects was identified. There was no significant difference between the two groups on ANCOVA analysis for well-being ( F=0.111. P=.739). Conclusions: High levels of caffeine consumption may have an exacerbating effect on already prevalent HIV-related sleep pattern disturbances, and significant reductions of caffeine may improve sleep quality.

Ploidy level and caffeine content in leaves of Coffea

Several species of Coffea and varieties of C. arabica differing in chromosome number had their caffeine content determined in the leaves. For Coffea arabica var. "Angustifolia", var. "Caturra" and var. "Icatu", it was observed caffeine decrease from the haploid (2n = 22) to tetraploid leaves (2n = 44). Caffeine in the tetraploid "Angustifolia" was decreased by 50% when compared to the haploid. Caffeine reduction was also observed in leaves of C. canephora var. "Kouilou" as chromosome number was increased (2n = 22 ® 2n = 44). In this case, caffeine in the leaves of the diploid genotype was close to 4 times higher than in the tetraploid. On the other hand it was observed an increase of the alkaloid when the chromosome number was doubled in the C. canephora var. "Robusta".

A weak pulsed magnetic field affects adenine nucleotide oscillations, and related parameters in aggregating Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae

A model eukaryotic cell system was used to explore the effect of a weak pulsed magnetic field (PMF) on time-varying physiological parameters. Dictyostelium discoideum cells (V12 strain) were exposed to a pulsed magnetic field (PMF) of flux density 0.4 mT, generated via air-cored coils in trains of 2 ms pulses gated at 20 ms. This signal is similar to those used to treat non-uniting fractures. Samples were taken over periods of 20 min from harvested suspensions of amoebae during early aggregation phase, extracted and derivatised for HPLC fluorescent assay of adenine nucleotides. Analysis of variance showed a significant athermal damping effect ( P<0.002, n=22) of the PMF on natural adenine nucleotide oscillations and some consistent changes in phase relationships. The technique of nonlinear dielectric spectroscopy (NLDS) revealed a distinctive effect of PMF, caffeine and EGTA in modulating the cellular harmonic response to an applied weak signal. Light scattering studies also showed altered frequency response of cells to PMF, EGTA and caffeine. PMF caused a significant reduction of caffeine induced cell contraction ( P<0.0006, n=19 by paired t-test) as shown by Malvern particle size analyser, suggesting that intracellular calcium may be involved in mediating the effect of the PMF.

Is the phospholipase A 2 pathway implicated in sarcolemma damage of the rat heart?

The Langendorff-perfused rat heart has been used to test the hypothesis that Ca 2+-activation of the phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2) is implicated in the damage of the sarcolemma. Creatine kinase (CK) efflux was monitored following a standard Ca 2+-paradox or treatment with 10 mM caffeine or 1 mM 2,4-dinitrophenol. Mepacrine (PLA 2 inhibitor) or nordihydroguaretic acid (NDGA, lipoxygenase inhibitor) did not protect against CK release in the standard Ca 2+-paradox. Mepacrine, NDGA or phenidone (lipoxygenase and cycloxygenase inhibitor) did not protect against mild conditions of the Ca 2+-paradox. No reduction in caffeine- or DNP-induced CK release was afforded by mepacrine. It is concluded that the PLA 2 cascade is stimulated by a rise in [Ca 2+] i but has no major role in CK release.

Caffeine reduction in coffee pulp through silage

Silage tests to study reductions of antiphysiological compounds (caffeine and polyphenols) of fresh coffee pulp during the anaerobic fermentation were done. A concrete silo divided in compartments, with a total capacity of 9 tons of fresh material was utilized. The silage periods ranged between 99–224 days and the following materials were ensiled: 1) coffee pulp, 2) coffee pulp with sugar cane molasses, 3) coffee pulp with a mixture of molasses and ammonia and 4) screw pressed coffee pulp with molasses. Reductions in caffeine, total polyphenols and condensed polyphenols ranged between 13–63%, 28–70% and 51–81% respectively. It was concluded that in the case of coffee pulp, silage presents and ideal method to preserve the material and partially reduce the contents of antiphysiological compounds.

Caffeine reduction as an adjunct to anxiety management

A reduction in tea and coffee drinking is popularly advocated for the relief of tension and anxiety symptoms, and it was decided to collect empirical data on this matter in the course of normal clinical practice. It was found that patients who made substantial reductions in caffeine drinking also made the greatest improvements in anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbance, headaches and abdominal symptoms. The methodology leaves an ambiguity in the interpretation of this result, but the data provide a useful basis for the design of further studies.

Novel decaffeination process using cyclodextrins

Various monomeric and polymerized cyclodextrins were investigated for their potential application in decaffeination. Treatment of aqueous caffeine solutions with monomeric gammacyclodextrin resulted in a significant reduction in the caffeine content of solutions over a wide range of caffeine concentration. Polymerized beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins were also demonstrated to be effective in removing caffeine by either a batch or column decaffeination process. Under the as-yet unoptimized process conditions, caffeine reduction of around 80% could readily be achieved. The process was applicable to caffeine-containing beverages (including coffee, tea, cocoa, and cola drinks) as well as theobromine-containing beverages (such as cocoa).

A survey of physician advice about caffeine

Six hundred and ninety-seven medical specialists were surveyed to determine whether there is any consensus on the harmful effects of caffeine. More than 75% of the specialists recommended reduction in caffeine in patients with anxiety, arrhythmias, esophagitis/hiatal hernia, fibrocystic disease, insomnia, palpitations, and tachycardia.

Reducing cigarette smoking in a retarded adult: An application of self‐management procedures

AbstractAn attempt was made to reduce the overall number of cigarettes smoked per day with a mildly retarded adult. Self‐monitoring was compared to self‐monitoring plus self‐graphing and goal setting procedures in reducing the number of cigarettes smoked. Self‐monitoring plus self‐graphing and goal setting was superior to self‐monitoring alone when the goal was set at 15 cigarettes per day, but the actual number of cigarettes smoked increased when the goal was set at 12. The number of cigarettes smoked during all treatment conditions was lower than either baseline conditions. The therapist also reduced the patient's caffeine intake and switched the client's brand of cigarettes to a low “tar”/nicotine brand. The reduction in caffeine and “tar”/nicotine was related to a small and transient increase in somatic complaints and verbal abuse, as well as the complete elimination of nocturnal enuresis. Brand switching to low “tar”/nicotine cigarettes did not result in an increase in the number of cigarettes smoked per day.

Ca2+ dependence of stimulated 45Ca efflux in skinned muscle fibers.

Stimulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca release by Mg reduction of caffeine was studied in situ, to characterize further the Ca2+ dependence observed previously with stimulation by Cl ion. 45Ca efflux and isometric force were measured simultaneously at 19 degrees C in frog skeletal muscle fibers skinned by microdissection; EGTA was added to chelate myofilament space Ca either before or after the stimulus. Both Mg2+ reduction (20 or 110 microM to 4 microM) and caffeine (5 mM) induced large force responses and 45Ca release, which were inhibited by pretreatment with 5 mM EGTA. In the case of Mg reduction, residual efflux stimulation was undetectable, and 45Ca efflux in EGTA at 4 microM Mg2+ was not significantly increased. Residual caffeine stimulation at 20 microM Mg2+ was substantial and was reduced further in increased EGTA (10 mM); at 600 microM Mg2+, residual stimulation in 5 mM EGTA was undetectable. Caffeine appears to initiate a small Ca2+-insensitive efflux that produces a large Ca2+-dependent efflux. Additional experiments suggested that caffeine also inhibited influx. The results suggest that stimulated efflux is mediated mainly or entirely by a channel controlled by an intrinsic Ca2+ receptor, which responds to local [Ca2+] in or near the channel. Receptor affinity for Ca2+ probably is influenced by Mg2+, but inhibition is weak unless local [Ca2+] is very low.