Summary
The effect on finger tremor of the administration of 150 mg of caffeine three times daily for two days was measured using an accelerometer in 7 healthy subjects taking their normal diet (excluding caffeine-containing beverages). The effect on finger tremor of a short period of fasting with and without the 450 mg daily dose of caffeine was also studied in the same 7 subjects. Fasting increased finger tremor significantly when caffeine was administered. In doses comparable to the likely adult daily intake in this country, caffeine did not increase finger tremor whilst subjects were taking their normal diet.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adler HF, Burkhardt WL, Ivy AC, Atkinson AJ (1950) Effect of various drugs on psychomotor performance at ground level and simulated altitudes of 18 000 feet in a low pressure chamber J Aviation Med 21: 221–236
Beach CA, Bianchine JR, Gerber N (1984) The excretion of caffeine in the semen of men: pharmacokinetics and comparison of the concentrations in blood and semen. J Clin Pharmacol 24: 120–126
Berkowitz BA, Tarver JH, Spector S (1970) Release of norepinephrine in the CNS by theophylline and caffeine. Eur J Pharmacol 10: 64–71
Birmingham AT, Wharrad HJ, Williams EJ (1985) The variation of finger tremor with age. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 48: 788–798
Birmingham AT, Williams EJ, Wilson CG, Wright P (1977) Finger tremor in normal subjects. J Physiol 276: 20–21P
Bowmann WC, Nott WN (1974) Effects of catecholamines, cyclic nucleotides and phosphodiesterase inhibitors on contractions of skeletal muscles in anaesthetised cats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 1: 309–323
Carrie JRG (1965) Finger tremor in alcoholic patients. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 28: 529
Gilliland AR, Nelson D (1939) Effects of coffee on certain mental and physiological functions. J Gen Psychol 21: 339–348
Graham DM (1978) Caffeine-its identity, dietary sources, intake and biological effects. Nutr Rev 36: 97–102
Green JH, Macdonald IA (1981) The influence of intravenous glucose on body temperature. Quart J Exp Physiol 66: 465–473
Growdon JH, Shahani BT, Young RR (1975) The effect of alcohol on essential tremor. Neurology 25: 259–262
Hollingworth HL (1912) The influence of caffeine on mental and motor efficiency. Arch Psychol 3: 1–116
Hull CL (1935) The influence of caffeine and other factors on certain phenomena of rote learning. J Gen Psychol 13: 249–274
Jeppsson AB, Johansson U, Waldeck B (1982) Dissociation between the effects of some xanthine derivatives on the tracheal smooth muscle and on the skeletal muscle. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol 51: 115–121
Jung RT, Shetty PS, Barrand M, Callingham BA, James WPT (1979) Role of catecholamines in hypotensive response to dieting. Br Med J 1: 12–13
Katovich MJ, Barney CC (1983) Alteration of peripheral β-adrenergic responsiveness in fasted rats. Life Sci 33: 1385–1393
Katz AM, Repke DI, Hasselbach W (1977) Dependence of ionophore-and caffeine-induced calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum. J Biol Chem 252: 1938–1949
Landsberg L, Young JB (1978) Fasting, feeding and regulation of the sympathetic nervous system. N Engl J Med 298: 1295–1300
Lehmann HE, Csank J (1957) Differential screening of phrenotropic agents in man. J Clin Psychopathol 18: 222–235
Lippold OCL, Williams EJ, Wilson CG (1980) Finger tremor and cigarette smoking. Br J Clin Pharmacol 10: 83–86
Marks V, Kelly JF (1973) Absorption of caffeine from tea, coffee and coca cola. Lancet 1: 827
Nelson JW, Cordry AL, Aron CG, Bartell RA (1977) Simplified micro-scale procedure for preparing samples for theophylline determination by liquid chromatography. Clin Chem 23: 124–126
Rall TW (1980) Central nervous system stimulants, the xanthines. In: Goodman LS, Gilman A (eds) The pharmacological basis of therapeutics. MacMillan, New York
Robertson D, Frohlich J, Carr RK, Watson JT, Hollifield J, Shand D, Oates J (1978) Effects of caffeine on plasma renin activity, catecholamines and blood pressure. N Engl J Med 298: 181–186
Switzer SA (1933) The influence of caffeine on the ‘inhibition of delay’. J Comp Psychol 19: 155–175
Tuttle WW, Wilson M, Daum K (1948) Effect of altered breakfast habits on physiological response. J Appl Physiol 1: 545–559
Waldeck B (1971) Some effects of caffeine and aminophylline on the turnover of catecholamines in the brain. J Pharm Pharmacol 23: 824–830
Waldeck B (1973) Sensitization by caffeine of central catecholamine receptors. J Neural Transm 34: 61–72
Young JB, Landsberg L (1977) Catecholamines and intermediary metabolism. Endocrinol Metab 6: 599–631
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wharrad, H.J., Birmingham, A.T., Macdonald, I.A. et al. The influence of fasting and of caffeine intake on finger tremor. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 29, 37–43 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00547366
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00547366