I used to drink 30, 40, 50 cups a coffee a day.

Moreover, the caffeine never kept me up.  I could down a cup of coffee and fall fast asleep.

It turns out that our response to coffee and caffeine is a function of our genetic makeup.  Actually, it’s most related to one specific gene- CYP1A2.  This gene ( a member of the cytochrome 450 family of enzymes that deal with drug metabolism and the synthesis of cholesterol, steroids, and other lipids).  which controls an enzyme (conveniently named CYP1A2, too) that regulates the caffeine metabolism and its excretion from the body.  And, of course, there are several variants of this gene.

Half of us have two copies of the CYP1A2 “fast” variant- which means we can metabolize caffeine lickety split.  40% of us have just one copy and are slow metabolizers.  And, then, there’s 10% of us who lack this gene and are “ultraslow” in clearing the caffeine from our bodies.

The half life for caffeine in our bodies ranges from 2 to 8 hours.  Which means our bodies remove half of the caffeine we ingested on a periodicity of two to 8 hours.

And, for those slow metabolizers of caffeine, drinking more coffee raises the risks for a cardiac event.  It also reduces the boost obtained from exercising.

Factors that affect CYPA12 activities include oral contraceptives (decrease) and smoking (increases).

My statements that those of us with ADD or ADHD (our brains don’t get enough dopamine) can actually benefit by ingesting caffeine (a stimulant that enhances dopamine), allowing the body to function on a more normal level.  (Note that this also means if one is taking ADHD meds, they may get overstimulated.)

No wonder some folks consider caffeine the wonder drug.

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