Caffeine in Nigeria

By Yemi Olakitan

Nigerians are known for their love of coffee, tea, soft drinks, and more recently the latest, which we called, energy drinks. There are so many brands; Power Horse, London Best, Red Bull, Spark, Monstar, Hippo and many more. Kids love chocolate. Teenagers love energy drinks, teetotalers love them; energy drinks are non-alcoholic. Children love different brands of biscuits made from chocolate. All of us consume caffeine in one quantity or the other. These trends are popular in Nigeria, particularly the energy drinks. Some have even claim that their days are not made without a cup of coffee. The question one needs to ask is what are the health implication of all these. Caffeine is a stimulant and a drug. Is Caffeine good for our health or not? It is regarded as the most widely used drug in the world. Scholars around the world confirm its stimulating power. It is a natural stimulant and can be found in the leaves, seeds or fruit of plants. It is manufactured and used as a food additive in a variety of colas and soft drinks. Many, pain relievers, and cold remedies also use caffeine. Caffeine is therefore in the daily life of most Nigerians knowingly or unknowingly. This question is therefore relevant: To what extent is Caffeine good for our health? This is a legitimate question that needs correct answers since we all take caffeine whether it’s from an energy drink, a can of soda, chocolate bar, or a cup of coffee or tea Nigerians consume caffeine regularly.
However, according to the World Health Organization, Caffeine, like nicotine, albeit to a lesser extent, meets some of the criteria of the WHO and the American Psychiatric Association for a drug of dependence and acts on the dopamine system in the same way as amphetamines and cocaine. ‘‘Caffeine and its metabolites are known to cross the blood-brain barrier readily in adults and fetuses alike. Intake of caffeine during pregnancy or the early postnatal period would be expected to have similar or more profound cardiovascular and neurobehavioral effects on fetuses and infants than on the caffeine-consuming mothers.’’ Studies have also shown that Coffee should never be consumed during pregnancy. It also appears that coffee consumption is associated with increased estrogen levels, which means an increase for breast and endometrial cancer.
In a chat with Ms. Iphy Edafe a pharmacist, she was of the opinion that moderate caffeine consumption poses no real risk to the general population. However, for those who are more sensitive to caffeine, even a small amount could cause a variety of adverse effects such as insomnia, headaches, irritability, restlessness, hallucinations, nervousness, and increased urination. Additionally, caffeine has been shown to inhibit absorption of iron and calcium and has an effect, which may lead to fluid loss. Speaking further, she said, ‘‘constriction of blood vessels can also occur when caffeine is ingested, which can cause poor circulation. Diabetics are often cautioned to avoid caffeine because it leads to an increase in blood sugar. Women of childbearing age are at increased risk of possible reproductive effects of caffeine,’’ she said. Michael Orie, a journalist said that sometimes he takes coffee and does not feel any side effects but at other times a cup of coffee can give him sever headaches, as a result of this, he has decided to avoid coffee altogether, instead, he prefers tea which he said do not contain the same quantity of caffeine as coffee.
The brand, Red Bull reportedly contains 80mg of Caffeine, the same amount as in a cup of coffee. Two years ago when Hummer Bonus International Limited launched its brand of energy drink, Hippo at Sheraton Hotels, Lagos, it claimed among other things that Caffeine has beneficial effects on mental and physical functions in human body. It has an influence on breathing and ability of the cardiac muscles to contract, as well as the heart rate. It has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system and speed up cardiac activity. A statement released by the company says, ‘‘Caffeine stimulates fat burning during endurance activities and thereby helps to use fat stores in the body, which results in a more efficient supply of energy. Caffeine is contained in many foodstuffs such as coffee tea or chocolate. One can of Hippo Energy Drink contains approximately same as a cup of coffee.’’
How true is this statement? Was it a statement inspired by brand building effort or a PR gimmick? In a chat with a Pharmacognosist, Chukuma Muanyan who defined pharmacognosy as "the study of medicine from natural sources, he advocated moderation in the intake of caffeine, according to him caffeine has different effects on different people but moderation should be generally observed by all. While some people may enjoy the health benefits in the consumption of caffeine, others may face the other side of the stimulant. People need to study their genetic make-up in other to know weather they should take caffeine or not. In this context he said that caffeine is neither good nor bad as it depends on who is taking the stimulant and in what quantity. He recommended coconut water as a form of energy drink, particularly for sports men and women He said that coconut water is a natural alternative that does not just boost energy levels in joggers and athletes, but lowers blood sugar levels/diabetes risk. According to him, a cup of coconut water from the young green coconut has been shown to be low in calories, has no fats or cholesterol, and has a natural balance of sodium, potassium (about 600 milligrams, that is more than a banana), calcium and magnesium- making it a healthy electrolyte drink. It has even been used intravenously, directly into the human blood stream, to stabilize electrolytes or treat people who were severely dehydrated. In fact, during the Pacific War of 1941 to 45, both sides in the conflict regularly used coconut water - siphoned directly from the nut - to give emergency plasma transfusions to wounded soldiers. Studies have shown that coconuts are anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-microbial. It is recommended that mixing coconut water with other juices for a tasty blend increases the health benefit and decreases the amount of calories and sugars in the drink.
Another school of Thought who supported the intake of Caffeinated products says it produces a variety of short and long-term health effects. Along with caffeine’s main appeal of greater alertness and energy, there are ample findings that reveal other positive effects. Findings suggest that caffeine reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease and type 2-diabetes. A French study showed a slower decline in cognitive abilities among women who consumed caffeine. In small quantities, caffeine can relieve migraines and enhance the pain-reducing effects of aspirin or other pain relievers, and is believed to help lessen the symptoms of allergy and asthma sufferers. Caffeine also increases dopamine production, a chemical that improves feelings of well-being. In all, it is reasonable to take the advice of experts when we feel any slight reaction in our body system in the consumption of any brand of caffeinated products.