Biomaterial Database

Disposition of caffeine and its metabolites in man. 1983

D D Tang-Liu, and R L Williams, and S Riegelman

The disposition of caffeine and its metabolites was studied in six healthy subjects by use of sensitive and specific assays. The primary degradation of caffeine in man was found to be N-demethylation and/or ring oxidation to theophylline, paraxanthine, theobromine and 1,3,7-trimethyluric acid. These compounds were further degraded to dimethylated uric acids, monomethylxanthines and monomethyluric acids. About 3 and 6% of the drug was converted to theophylline and theobromine, respectively. The elimination of paraxanthine after its formation did not follow linear kinetics. A large urine recovery of 1-methylxanthine after caffeine administration in comparison with the amount recovered after administration of theophylline suggests an inhibitory effect on the degradation of this metabolite by either caffeine itself or another metabolite of caffeine. Caffeine and its primary metabolites, dimethylxanthines, were extensively reabsorbed in the renal tubule. Their renal clearances were highly urine flow-dependent and their urinary excretion varied with urine output during the study. About 70% of the dose was recovered in the urine. Postulated degradation pathways of caffeine are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008297	Male		Males
D002110	Caffeine	A methylxanthine naturally occurring in some beverages and also used as a pharmacological agent. Caffeine's most notable pharmacological effect is as a central nervous system stimulant, increasing alertness and producing agitation. It also relaxes SMOOTH MUSCLE, stimulates CARDIAC MUSCLE, stimulates DIURESIS, and appears to be useful in the treatment of some types of headache. Several cellular actions of caffeine have been observed, but it is not entirely clear how each contributes to its pharmacological profile. Among the most important are inhibition of cyclic nucleotide PHOSPHODIESTERASES, antagonism of ADENOSINE RECEPTORS, and modulation of intracellular calcium handling.	1,3,7-Trimethylxanthine,Caffedrine,Coffeinum N,Coffeinum Purrum,Dexitac,Durvitan,No Doz,Percoffedrinol N,Percutaféine,Quick-Pep,Vivarin,Quick Pep,QuickPep
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001711	Biotransformation	The chemical alteration of an exogenous substance by or in a biological system. The alteration may inactivate the compound or it may result in the production of an active metabolite of an inactive parent compound. The alterations may be divided into METABOLIC DETOXICATION, PHASE I and METABOLIC DETOXICATION, PHASE II.
D013805	Theobromine	3,7-Dimethylxanthine. The principle alkaloid in Theobroma cacao (the cacao bean) and other plants. A xanthine alkaloid that is used as a bronchodilator and as a vasodilator. It has a weaker diuretic activity than THEOPHYLLINE and is also a less powerful stimulant of smooth muscle. It has practically no stimulant effect on the central nervous system. It was formerly used as a diuretic and in the treatment of angina pectoris and hypertension. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, pp1318-9)
D013806	Theophylline	A methyl xanthine derivative from tea with diuretic, smooth muscle relaxant, bronchial dilation, cardiac and central nervous system stimulant activities. Theophylline inhibits the 3',5'-CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE PHOSPHODIESTERASE that degrades CYCLIC AMP thus potentiates the actions of agents that act through ADENYLYL CYCLASES and cyclic AMP.	1,3-Dimethylxanthine,3,7-Dihydro-1,3-dimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione,Accurbron,Aerobin,Aerolate,Afonilum Retard,Aquaphyllin,Armophylline,Bronchoparat,Bronkodyl,Constant-T,Elixophyllin,Euphylong,Glycine Theophyllinate,Lodrane,Monospan,Nuelin,Nuelin S.A.,Quibron T-SR,Slo-Phyllin,Somophyllin-T,Sustaire,Synophylate,Theo Von Ct,Theo-24,Theo-Dur,Theobid,Theocin,Theoconfin Continuous,Theodur,Theolair,Theolix,Theon,Theonite,Theopek,Theophylline Anhydrous,Theophylline Sodium Glycinate,Theospan,Theostat,Theovent,Uniphyl,Uniphyllin,Uniphylline,1,3 Dimethylxanthine,Anhydrous, Theophylline,Constant T,ConstantT,Ct, Theo Von,Glycinate, Theophylline Sodium,Quibron T SR,Quibron TSR,Slo Phyllin,SloPhyllin,Sodium Glycinate, Theophylline,Somophyllin T,SomophyllinT,Theo 24,Theo Dur,Theo24,Theophyllinate, Glycine,Von Ct, Theo