Do Your Supplements Give You A Kick Of Caffeine?

Secret Caffeine in Dietary Supplements

Half of us are taking dietary supplements on a daily basis but what you may not know is that some of them come with a kick of caffeine - and it may not even be listed on the label.

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists analyzed a number of caffeine-containing products including supplements. You see, caffeine is a natural alkaloid in more than 60 plants (including tea and coffee) and in plant derivatives known as "botanicals." These botanicals, such as guarana, yerba mate, kola nut and green tea extract, are common dietary-supplement ingredients and are printed on the label's ingredient list - although you might not see any amount of caffeine listed on the label. According to the Agricultural Research Service online report on Caffeine In Selected Dietary Supplements, there is no requirement to state the amount of caffeine present in a food, beverage or supplement on the product's label. If caffeine in its pure form is added to a product, however, there is a requirement to add the word "caffeine" to the label's ingredient listing, the report explains.

Dietary supplements - predominantly weight-loss and sports-nutrition products containing at least one caffeine-containing ingredient - were chosen for the ARS analysis. Here's what they found:

[Note: According to the Nutrient Data Laboratory, one 8-ounce cup of coffee (240 milliliters) contains about 95 milligrams of caffeine.]

• Of the 53 products analyzed, 27 products provided - by way of a daily serving defined on the label - the caffeine equivalent of about 1 to 2 cups of coffee.


• 11 products had caffeine equivalents ranging from 2 to 4 cups of coffee.


• 11 more products had equivalents ranging from 4 to 6 cups of coffee.


• 4 products provided an amount of caffeine ranging from 7 to 8 cups of coffee.


• Of the 28 analyzed products that voluntarily listed a caffeine amount on the label, 25 were found to contain caffeine levels within 20 percent of the label amount.

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[Agricultural Research Magazine, April 2009, "Caffeine-containing Botanicals in Dietary Supplements."]


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Are You Really Hypoglycemic?

I sometimes say that I'm "hypoglycemic" and for me that's just code for "I'm getting kind of light headed and I need to eat something PDQ." It usually happens to me when I've had a caffeinated beverage without eating something at the same time. I call it "hypoglycemic" because it feels a little like I think having low blood sugar would feel. But maybe, at least for me, "caffeine sensitive" might be the more accurate term. It isn't just me that seems to throw the term around loosely though.

So what is hypoglycemia and does it really exist in people who don't have diabetes?

The true definition of hypoglycemia is low blood sugar-below 50 and it isn't very common in people without diabetes. It is possible that some of us are more sensitive to quick changes in our blood sugar (so we may still have normal blood sugar levels but the quick change is causing us to have symptoms). With reactive hypoglycemia the body may overreact to fast absorbed carbohydrates (like from sugars), but in my experience caffeine and PMS-type hormones can bring about a feeling of hypoglycemia more so than sugar intake in some people. And eating balanced meals (with protein and fiber) seems to help minimize lower blood sugars for some.

If you think you have reactive hypoglycemia, it's best to get a proper diagnosis from your doctor.

And here are a few diet tips that might help reduce the symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia:

• Eat five small meals a day that are nicely balanced with a mixture of complex carbohydrate (whole grains, vegetable and beans), protein and some smart fat (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat).


• If you are sensitive to the body's reaction to sugars, eat them in sensible servings WITH other foods and not by themselves.


• Avoid caffeine, especially during the time of day when you seem the most sensitive to it.

Related Topics:

• WebMD Video: Non-Diabetics Can Have Hypoglycemia?
• Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) in People Without Diabetes