Is caffeine bad for you? The answer depends on whether you're a CYP1A2 ultrarapid metabolizer or a slow metabolizer.
Maybe you're one of those people who can have an after-dinner cappuccino and still fall asleep at bedtime. Or maybe you're the opposite. Any caffeine after noon keeps you wide awake.
The difference lies in your genes. The CYP1A2 gene determines how your body metabolizes the caffeine found your favorite beverages—like tea, coffee, and soda—and how it makes you feel.
What is caffeine—and how does it affect the body?
Caffeine is a bitter substance that’s found naturally in more than 60 different plants, including coffee beans, tea leaves, and kola nuts. Kola nuts are used to make soda.
Caffeine acts as a natural stimulant, and for this reason, the FDA lists it as both a food and a drug.
Caffeine targets the central nervous system and makes you feel more awake, energized, and alert. It’s often described as a cognitive and physical performance enhancer.
But everyone seems to react differently to caffeine. Some people get jittery and anxious from a few sips of coffee, while others can drink cup after cup without blinking an eye.
Recently, researchers discovered these variations in caffeine tolerance can be traced back to genetic differences, which brings us to the CYP1A2 gene.