title: Stress-like adrenocorticotropin responses to caffeine in young healthy men.
abstract: The effects of oral caffeine (3.3 mg/kg, equivalent to 2-3 cups of coffee) on plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol (CORT) were tested in 47 healthy young men at rest in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Following caffeine, ACTH was significantly elevated at all times from 30 min to 180 min, and CORT was elevated from 60 min to 120 min (Fs > or = 8.4, ps < 0.01). Peak increases relative to placebo were: ACTH, 33% (+5.2 pg/ml) and CORT, 30% (+2.7 micrograms/dl) at 60 min postcaffeine. The results suggest that caffeine can activate important components of the pituitary-adrenocortical response in humans during the resting state. Caffeine's known ability to increase CORT production appears at least partly due to an increase in ACTH release at the pituitary.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, USA.
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Lovallo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al'Absi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blick
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Whitsett
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D000328:Adult; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002110:Caffeine; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone