1.1. How much caffeine is there in [drink/food/pill]?
Description
This article is from the Coffee and Caffeine FAQ, by Alex Lopez-Ortiz with numerous contributions by others.
1.1. How much caffeine is there in [drink/food/pill]?
According to the National Soft Drink Association, the following
is the caffeine content in mgs per 12 oz can of soda:
Afri-Cola 100.0 (?)
Jolt 71.2
Sugar-Free Mr. Pibb 58.8
Mountain Dew 55.0 (no caffeine in Canada)
Diet Mountain Dew 55.0
Kick citrus 54 (36mg per 8oz can, caffeine from guarana)
Mello Yellow 52.8
Surge 51.0
Tab 46.8
Battery energy drink -- 140mg/l = 46.7mg/can
Coca-Cola 45.6
Diet Cola 45.6
Shasta Cola 44.4
Shasta Cherry Cola 44.4
Shasta Diet Cola 44.4
Mr. Pibb 40.8
OK Soda 40.5
Dr. Pepper 39.6
Pepsi Cola 37.2
Aspen 36.0
Diet Pepsi 35.4
RC Cola 36.0
Diet RC 36.0
Diet Rite 36.0
Canada Dry Cola 30.0
Canada Dry Diet Cola 1.2
7 Up 0
Krank2o sample 1 97.7mg/500ml sample 2 101.6mg/500ml
Lab: Ameritech Labs, College Pt, NY; tested Sep 03, 96
Krank2o middle 96.4mg/500ml
Lab: Ameritech Labs, tested Aug 29, 96
By means of comparison, a 7 oz cup of coffee has the following
caffeine (mg) amounts, according to Bunker and McWilliams in J.
Am. Diet. 74:28-32, 1979:
Drip 115-175
Espresso 100mg of caffeine
1 serving (1.5-2oz)
Brewed 80-135
Instant 65-100
Decaf, brewed 3-4
Decaf, instant 2-3
Tea, iced (12 ozs.) 70
Tea, brewed, imported 60
Tea, brewed, U.S. 40
Tea, instant 30
Mate 25-150mg
The variability in the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee or
tea is relatively large even if prepared by the same person using
the same equipment and ingredients day after day.
Reference Variability in caffeine consumption from coffee and
tea: Possible significance for epidemiological studies by B.
Stavric, R. Klassen, B. Watkinson, K. Karpinski, R. Stapley, and
P. Fried in "Foundations of Chemical Toxicology", Volume 26,
number 2, pp. 111-118, 1988 and an easy to read overview, Looking
for the Perfect Brew by S. Eisenberg, "Science News", Volume 133,
April 16, 1988, pp. 252-253.
Quote from the lab manual:
Caffeine is present in tea leaves and in coffee to the
extent of about 4%. Tea also contains two other
alkaloids, theobromine and theophylline. These last two
relax the smooth muscles where caffeine stimulates the
heart and respiratory systems.
The effects of theobromine are, compared to caffeine and
theophylline, relatively moderate. However, cocoa contains eight
times more theophylline than caffeine. As well, caffeine has been
shown to combine with other substances for added potency. Thus
the effects of theobromine might be enhanced by the caffeine in
chocolate.
Theobromine is highly toxic to dogs and kills many canids/year
via chocolate poisoning. It takes quite a dose to reach fatal
levels (more than 200 mg/kg bodyweight) but some dogs have a bad
habit of eating out of garbage cans and some owners have a bad
habit of feeding dogs candy. A few oreos won't hurt a dog, but a
pound of chocolate can do considerable damage.
Clinical signs of theobromine toxicity in canids usually manifest
8 hours after ingestion and can include: thirst, vomiting,
diarrhea, urinary incontinence, nervousness, clonic muscle
spasms, seizures and coma. Any dog thought to have ingested a
large quantity of chocolate should be brought to an emergency
clinic asap, where treatment usually includes the use of emetics
and activated charcoal. The dog will thus need to be monitored to
maintain proper fluid and electrolyte balance.
Pathogenesis of theobromine toxicity: evidently large quantities
of theobromine have a diuretic effect, relax smooth muscles, and
stimulate the heart and cns.
Reference:
Fraser, Clarence M., et al, eds. The Merck Veterinary Manual, 7th
ed. Rahway, NJ: Merck & Co., Inc. 1991. pp. 1643-44.
On humans caffeine acts particularly on the brain and skeletal
muscles while theophylline targets heart, bronchia, and kidneys.
Other data on caffeine:
Cup of coffee 90-150mg Instant coffee 60-80mg Tea 30-70mg Mate 25-150mg Cola 30-45mg Chocolate bar 30mg Stay-awake pill 100mg Vivarin 200mg Cold relief tablet 30mg
The following information is from Bowes and Church's Food values of
portions commonly used, by Anna De Planter Bowes. Lippincott, Phila.
1989. Pages 261-2: Caffeine.
Candy:
Chocolate mg caffeine
baking choc, unsweetened, Bakers--1 oz(28 g) 25
german sweet, Bakers -- 1 oz (28 g) 8
semi-sweet, Bakers -- 1 oz (28 g) 13
Choc chips
Bakers -- 1/4 cup (43 g) 13
german sweet, Bakers -- 1/4 cup (43 g) 15
Chocolate bar, Cadbury -- 1 oz (28 g) 15
Chocolate milk 8oz 8
Desserts:
Jello Pudding Pops, Choc (47 g) 2
Choc mousse from Jell-O mix (95 g) 6
Jello choc fudge mousse (86 g) 12
Beverages
3 heaping teaspoons of choc powder mix 8
2 tablespoons choc syrup 5
1 envelope hot cocoa mix 5
Dietary formulas
ensure, plus, choc, Ross Labs -- 8 oz (259 g) 10
Cadbury Milk Chocolate Bar
More stuff:
Guarana "Magic Power" (quite common in Germany),
15 ml alcohol with
5g Guarana Seeds 250.0 mg
Guarana capsules with
500 mg G. seeds 25.0 mg / capsule
(assuming 5% caffeine in seeds as stated in literature)
Guarana soda pop is ubiquitous in Brazil and often available at
tropical groceries here. It's really tasty and packs a wallop. Guarana
wakes you up like crazy, but it doesn't cause coffee jitters.
It is possible that in addition to caffeine, there is some other
substance in guarana that also produces an effect, since it 'feels'
different than coffee. Same goes for mate.
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