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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Nutrient Data Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #194800
Title: CAFFEINE-CONTAINING INGREDIENTS IN DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS: GUARANA, KOLA NUT, YERBA MATE, TEA, AND COCOA

Author
item Roseland, Janet
item Holden, Joanne
item SCHWEITZER, A - JOHNS HOPKINS UNIV
item ANDREWS, K - JOHNS HOPKINS UNIV
item ZHAO, C - JOHNS HOPKINS UNIV
item BRANDT, M - FDA
item WOO, J - FDA
item DWYER, J - ODS-NIH
item PICCIANO, M - ODS-NIH
item SALDANHA, L - ODS-NIH
item BETZ, J - ODS-NIH

Submitted to: National Nutrient Databank Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/4/2006
Publication Date: 9/16/2006
Citation: Roseland, J.M., Holden, J.M., Schweitzer, A., Andrews, K., Zhao, C., Brandt, M., Woo, J., Dwyer, J., Picciano, M., Saldanha, L., Betz, J. Caffeine-containing ingredients in dietary supplements: guarana, kola nut, yerba mate, tea, and cocoa. American Dietetic Association Food and Nutrition Conference & Expo, September 16-19, 2006, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Nutrition experts who advise consumers to restrict caffeine intake need to be apprised of caffeine-containing ingredients in dietary supplements. These ingredients may be labeled as guarana (Paullinia cupana Kunth), cola nut (also kola nut, Cola nitida (Vent.) Schott & Endl.), yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.), tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze), and cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.). Sixty-three dietary supplement products for weight loss or sports performance were selected from four main sales channels, including top-selling products and randomly chosen products available in the market. Analysis of caffeine content was performed by high performance liquid chromatography and results were monitored for accuracy by the Nutrient Data Laboratory. Maximum daily intake of caffeine from the use of these supplements was computed by multiplying the analytical values by the maximum recommended label amounts. Based upon these calculations, 55% of the products would provide more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day, which is roughly equivalent to the caffeine provided by 2 cups of brewed coffee. Thirty products did not declare caffeine levels but listed one or more of the following caffeine-containing ingredients: guarana, kola nut, green tea, or cocoa. Consumers wishing to limit caffeine intake should be aware of ingredients containing caffeine in order to identify these ingredients on dietary supplement labels. This project was funded by FDA through interagency agreement of ODS/NIH Y4-HV-0051.