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Aim: To investigate the effect of caffeine on the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in the liver and heart tissues of rats. Materials and methods: The current study included 30 rats, which were divided into 3 groups: a control group and 2 caffeine-treated groups. Group 1 was given caffeine at 30 mg/kg and Group 2 was given caffeine at 100 mg/kg (a high nontoxic dose) for 14 days. Results: MDA and AOPP levels in the liver tissue of the caffeine-treated groups decreased significantly as a result of the dose. MDA and AOPP levels in the heart tissue also decreased, but this effect was not significantly affected by the dose. NO levels in the liver tissue of the caffeine-treated groups were higher than those in the control group; in the heart tissues, however, NO levels were not significantly affected by caffeine. Conclusion: These results show that the short-term consumption of 2 different doses of caffeine may potentially protect against oxidative stress in the liver. This effect is related to the dose of caffeine in the liver tissue. Further studies will be needed to discover the mechanisms responsible for these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To estimate daily caffeine intake among a group of university students at the Kocaeli Vocational School of Health Services in Turkey, and to determine the relationship between daily caffeine consumption and withdrawal symptoms. Materials and methods: This survey study was conducted using a questionnaire that was administered to 156 university students (129 females, 27 males) at the Kocaeli Vocational School of Health Services in Kocaeli, Turkey. The quantity of caffeine-containing products consumed was recorded on a daily basis, depending on the dietary habits of the consumer. The t test for differences between 2 proportions (using the normal approximation) was used for comparison of the frequency of complaints that began within 12-24 h of the cessation of caffeine consumption in relation to the quantities of daily caffeine consumption at P < 0.05. Results: Daily caffeine intake was estimated to range from 0 to 500 mg day-1. A significant increase in headache, fatigue, irritability, and sleepiness/drowsiness (P < 0.05) was reported by student's whose daily caffeine consumption was > 200 mg than by those whose daily caffeine consumption was < 200 mg. Conclusion: The data obtained show that Turkish university students consume similar amounts of caffeine as American, Canadian, Swedish, and British university students. The survey results show that there was a relationship between daily caffeine consumption and withdrawal symptoms (headache, fatigue, irritability, and sleepiness/drowsiness). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crude extract of Nigella sativa, N. sativa oil, ground coffee beans and caffeine were tested for their effects on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus. Crude extract of N. sativa inhibited the production of three types of aflatoxins (B1, B2 and G1) at 5% (w/v) concentration, while N. sativa oil inhibited all four types of aflatoxins using 3% (v/v) concentration. However, coffee inhibited the production of B1, G1 and G2 aflatoxins at 6% (w/v), while caffeine inhibited only G1 and G2 aflatoxin. Our results suggest the investigated ingredients may have a significant fungal antitoxic activity which can be exploited as food preservative to minimize mycotoxin effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]