From: RICK@ysub.ysu.edu (Rick Marsico)
Subject: Ephedrine and Caffeine
Organization: Youngstown State University
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 11:54:23 GMT

 With all the recent discussion about ephedrine, I thought the following
 may be of some interest.
 
 The following excerpt was taken from the latest issue of the "National
 Strength & Conditioning Association Journal".  Volume 14, Number 4.
 The article is "Ergogenic aids:  clenbuterol, Ma Haung, caffeine,
 L-carnitine and growth hormone releasers" by Karl E. Friedl, Ph.D. and
 Rober J. Moore, Ph.D.  The complete article can be found on pages
 35 through 44.
 
          Caffeine  and   ephedrine  can   increase  resting
          metabolic  rates   and  increase   fat  metabolism
          (7,31).   Presumably  these work  through separate
          mechanisms  of phosphodiesterase  inhibition  (41)
          and  Beta-adrenergic  stimulation,   respectively,
          although both  of these substances  also stimulate
          the release  of catecholamines which  will produce
          additional adrenergic actions.   When administered
          together,  the action of caffeine and ephedrine is
          greater  than that  expected from  simply the  sum
          effect  of the  two  drugs  and markedly  enhances
          thermogenesis (8).  There is also some unpublished
          data which suggests that  this combination acts as
          a "nutrient repartitioning  agent," increasing the
          proportion of  muscle mass and reducing  the total
          feed   requirements    in   growing    pigs   (9).
          Supplements which  include ephedrine  and caffeine
          are  being  promoted to  athletes  as  performance
          enhancers.   Whether or not the concentration sold
          in  various  "natural" products  can  actually  do
          anything has  not been reported in  any scientific
          study,   but the  athletes should  be warned  that
          these products  may produce  a positive  drug test
          for banned substances (27).
 
7.  Astrup, A., Lundsgaard, C., Madsen, J. and M.J Christensen.  1985.
     Enhanced  thermogenic  responsiveness  during  chronic  ephedrine
     treatment in man.  Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 42:83-94.
 
8.  Astrup, A., Toubro, S., Cannon, S., Hein, P. and J. Madsen.  1991.
     Thermogenic synergism  between ephedrine and caffeine  in healthy
     volunteers:     a   double-blind,     placebo-controlled   study.
     Metabolism.  40:323-329.
 
9.  Astrup, A., Toubro, S., Christensen, N.J.  and F.  Quaade.   1992.
     Pharmacology  of  thermogenic  drugs.    Am.   J.   Clin.   Nutr.
     55:246S-8S.
 
27. Cowart,  V.  1986.   State-of-art drug identification laboratories
     play   increasing  role   in  major   athletic  events.     JAMA.
     256:3068-3074.
 
31. Dulloo, A.G., Geissler, C.A., Horton,  T.,  Collins,  A.  and D.S.
     Miller.   1989.   Normal  caffeine   consumption:   influence  on
     thermogenesis and daily energy expenditure in lean and post-obese
     human volunteers.  Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 49:44-50.
 
41. Graham,  T.E.  and L.L.  Spriet.  1991.  Performance and metabolic
     responses to a high caffeine dose during prolonged exercise.   J.
     Appl. Physiol.  71:2292-2298.
 
 
 
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rick@ysu.edu