Factors Affecting Caffeine Toxicity: A Review of the Literature

Fatal caffeine intoxication in a dog

“…The toxic dose of caffeine for dogs is reported to be 140-150 mg/kg (20). The diagnosis of caffeine intoxication in humans is often based on history of caffeine ingestion with corresponding caffeine levels in blood or tissue samples (4,7,14,25).…”

“…Caffeine is quickly absorbed after ingestion and reaches peak serum levels within 1 hour (2,20). Clinical signs include gastrointestinal derangements (vomiting, diarrhea), cardiovascular instability (hypertension or hypotension, tachycardia), and neurologic effects (delusions, hallucinations, and seizures) (14,20).…”

“…Clinical signs include gastrointestinal derangements (vomiting, diarrhea), cardiovascular instability (hypertension or hypotension, tachycardia), and neurologic effects (delusions, hallucinations, and seizures) (14,20). Caffeine's effects are mediated through competitive antagonism of adenosine receptors, which are found in the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems (1,2).…”

“…Caffeine is the common name for the chemical 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, which is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and metabolized by the liver (5,9). Caffeine is generally considered a safe compound because it has a high threshold of toxicity and is a gastric irritant with emetic properties (20). Reports of toxicosis in the medical literature have been attributed to both accidental and intentional overdose (3,4,7,14,24,25).…”

Neuropsychological Effects of Caffeine: Is Caffeine Addictive?

“…Massive overdose can even bring death [33]. The LD 50 (lethal dose, 50%) of caffeine in people is reliant on individual sensitivity, but is assessed to be 150 to 200 mg for every kg of body mass (i.e., 75 to 100 cups of coffee for a 70 kg adult) [34]. Various fatalities have been brought about by overdoses of readily available powdered caffeine supplements, for which the evaluated lethal amount is not exactly a tablespoon [35].…”