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From: ix21@sdccs6.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.med,net.veg
Subject: Re: Caffeine and Theobromide
Message-ID: <1354@sdccs6.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Apr-84 02:58:33 EST
Article-I.D.: sdccs6.1354
Posted: Tue Apr 17 02:58:33 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 18-Apr-84 01:10:29 EST
References: <2700@azure.UUCP>
Organization: U.C. San Diego, Computer Center
Lines: 55
Keywords: Caffeine, theobromine, theophylline, tea, coffee, cola

ECZ mentions that there is theobromide in tea as well as caffeine in
tea and requests information on the effects of theobromide.  He also
states that they are both alkaloids and gives their chemical
formulas.  I don't know if theobromide exists but it is not present
in tea.  He probably misspelled theobromine which has minimal
effects on humans.

Actually tea contains caffeine and theophylline with trace amounts
of theobromine.  Theobromine is found in significant amounts only in
cocoa.  All three of these substances are xanthines which gives them
several common effects.  The fact that they are also alkaloids means
little -- both an iron and a computer are electronic devices, but
they hardly do the same thing.  

The pharmacological effects of xanthines include nervous system
stimulation, relaxation of smooth muscles, especially in the lung, and
diuresis.  Theophylline, found in tea, is a very potent bronchial
muscle relaxant which is why it is used in folk medicine so much, and
why it clears up asthma and other respiratory problems; theophylline
has also been attributed with relieving migraine headaches and other
pains.  Caffeine is not as potent in relaxing smooth muscle.  Both
caffeine and theopylline are stimulants with theophylline being only
slightly more potent.  Theobromine is several orders of magnitude less
potent than the other two xanthines.

There has been some discussion about how much caffeine is in tea,
coffee, and cola, and how much eventually is absorbed by the body.
A 250 ml cup of coffee has a bioavailable amount of 85 mg of
caffeine; tea: 50mg. caffeine, 1 mg of theophylline; cocoa: 250 mg.
theobromine, 5 mg. caffeine; a 360 ml serving of cola (1 can) 50 mg.
caffeine.  The above are averages not absolute figures, and
bioavailable refers to the amount of the substance added to the body
after drinking the drink.  Note that even though cocoa contains 250
mg. of theobromine, the 5 mg of caffeine in cocoa has more effect
than the 250 mg of theobromine.  Note also that coffee has the most
stimulatory effect; even though it does not have available the most
stimulant.

References:

Goodman and Gilman's The pharmocological Basis of Medical
Therapeutics, 6th ed.

Graham, D. M.  Caffeine -- its identity, dietary sources, intake and
biological effects.  Nutritional Review, 1978, 36, 97-102.

Weinberger, M.  Theophylline for treatment of asthma. Journal of
Pediatrics, 1978, 92, 1-17.



David Whiteman,
UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla