ABSTRACT
Caffeine is a chemical compound which is produced from plants. It is classified as a member of methylxanthine alkaloid which is often used as a central nervous system stimulant (Phytomedical Technologies 2006)t. In its purest form, it occurs as an odourless white powder with a slightly bitter taste. The most common food sources of caffeine in the human diet have been coffee (from the coffee plant, Coffea sp.), chocolate (from the cacao plant, Theobroma cacao) and tea (from the tea plant, Camellia sinensis).Cholesterol is a fatty substance, vital for good health. It is known as one of the major components of cell membranes, various hormones, bile and vitamin D. Cholesterol and other blood fats are carried in the blood by plasma proteins. When these proteins and fats combine they are called lipoproteins. There are two main lipoproteins: Low density lipoprotein (LDL) and High density lipoprotein (HDL). Cafestol, a known compound found in coffee, elevates cholesterol by hijacking a receptor in an intestinal pathway critical to its regulation, this according to studies done in Baylor College of Medicine. The human heart is a four-chambered muscular organ, shaped and sized roughly like a man's closed fist with two-thirds of the mass to the left of midline. The heart is enclosed in a pericardial sac that is lined with the parietal layers of a serous membrane. The visceral layer of the serous membrane forms the epicardium. The aorta is the largest artery in the body, initially being an inch wide in diameter. It receives the cardiac output from the left ventricle and supplies the body with oxygenated blood via the systemic circulation. High intake of caffeine causes increase in aortic stiffness. The aortic stiffness may increase passively as a result of an increase in blood pressure or actively because of a modification in the intrinsic elastic properties of the vessel. The liver is the largest solid organ in the body. It removes toxins from the body’s blood supply, maintains healthy blood sugar levels, regulates blood clotting, and performs hundreds of other vital functions. It is located beneath the rib cage in the right upper abdomen. Studies have shown that moderate doses of caffeine (200mg daily) has no adverse effect on the organs of the body. However, high doses cause damage to the brain, heart, liver and blood vessels. This damage can lead to stenosis of blood vessels, vascular hypertrophy as well as ulceration. It can also lead to hypertrophy of the cardiomyocyte and perivascular infilteration by inflammatory cells as a result of endothelial reactions.
