Disordered caffeination: a biocultural analysis of adverse reactions to caffeine

While coffee culture has long since been positively associated with intellectual
and working life, the health and safety of its primary stimulant, caffeine, has recently
fallen under scrutiny by the FDA. This medical anthropology thesis provides a
biocultural synthesis of caffeine culture, health effects, and biological variation in
adverse effects related to pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Supporting evidence
for variation in responses to caffeine was found through surveying 100 participants,
investigating caffeine consumption levels, perceptions and health beliefs, adverse effects
experienced, and medical encounters. Increased rates of adverse effects were found for
students, pharmaceutical and over-the-counter drug users, and for participants reporting
negative or ambivalent perceptions of caffeine, intolerance, or sensitivity to caffeine.
Variation in rates of adverse effects suggests biocultural interactions account not only for
patterns in pharmacological data, but are also clinically significant in constructing risk of
caffeine intoxication.