RESEARCH PAPER
INFLUENCE OF GENDER ON THE PLASMA CONCENTRATION OF CAFFEINE AND ITS METABOLITES AFTER BODY WEIGHT-DEPENDENT DOSING
1
Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, University of Opole, Poland
2
Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Poland
3
Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Opole, Poland
4
Department of Physiotherapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
Submission date: 2025-06-06
Final revision date: 2025-06-24
Acceptance date: 2025-06-30
Publication date: 2025-07-02
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Caffeine is a widely consumed central nervous system stimulant, but its optimal dosing remains uncertain. This study examines gender-specific plasma caffeine and metabolite levels following weight-adjusted dosing.
Material and methods:
The study included 38 women and 19 men (age 26.2±3.2; BMI 23.9±4.5). Participants received 6 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight, resulting in mean absolute doses of 398.8±91.9 mg for women and 485.8±86.2 mg for men. Blood samples were collected 60 minutes post-caffeine ingestion, and plasma concentrations of caffeine and its metabolites were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography.
Results:
A Mann-Whitney U test revealed statistically significant differences in caffeine dosage between the study groups (U=144, p<0.001, r=0.49). The analysis of the caffeine concentration variable showed statistically significant differences between the study groups (U=244.5, p=0.049, r=0.26).
Conclusions:
Although women received significantly smaller total doses of caffeine, they exhibited significantly higher plasma concentrations of caffeine than men. No significant differences were observed in the concentrations of paraxanthine or theobromine, while theophylline was undetectable in any of the samples. These findings underscore gender-specific differences in caffeine metabolism and highlight the potential need for tailored caffeine dosing based on gender.
Caffeine is a widely consumed central nervous system stimulant, but its optimal dosing remains uncertain. This study examines gender-specific plasma caffeine and metabolite levels following weight-adjusted dosing.
Material and methods:
The study included 38 women and 19 men (age 26.2±3.2; BMI 23.9±4.5). Participants received 6 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight, resulting in mean absolute doses of 398.8±91.9 mg for women and 485.8±86.2 mg for men. Blood samples were collected 60 minutes post-caffeine ingestion, and plasma concentrations of caffeine and its metabolites were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography.
Results:
A Mann-Whitney U test revealed statistically significant differences in caffeine dosage between the study groups (U=144, p<0.001, r=0.49). The analysis of the caffeine concentration variable showed statistically significant differences between the study groups (U=244.5, p=0.049, r=0.26).
Conclusions:
Although women received significantly smaller total doses of caffeine, they exhibited significantly higher plasma concentrations of caffeine than men. No significant differences were observed in the concentrations of paraxanthine or theobromine, while theophylline was undetectable in any of the samples. These findings underscore gender-specific differences in caffeine metabolism and highlight the potential need for tailored caffeine dosing based on gender.
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