Determining The Caffeine Content of Certain Types of Coffee in Western Libya and Gastrointestinal Symptoms
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54361/LJMR.20.2.48Keywords:
coffee, Libya, stomach problem, caffeineAbstract
Background: Coffee is one of the most popular and widely consumed beverages in the world, as its caffeine content stimulates individuals. It remains one of the most popular drinks globally to this day. Coffee is made from roasted coffee beans, which are grown in more than 70 countries, particularly in the tropical regions of Africa, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and North and South America. The aim is to evaluate the relationship between coffee consumption and gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly abdominal pain. It also sought to determine the caffeine content of six types of coffee available in markets in western Libya. Method: Data were collected through a questionnaire completed by 192 participants. The questionnaire included information on demographic characteristics, coffee consumption patterns, and associated gastrointestinal symptoms. Data analysis was done in SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA, version 26.0, with the statistical significance level set at p < 0.05. In addition, caffeine was extracted from coffee and instant coffee using a spectrophotometric method. The process was repeated three times to obtain the final result for the caffeine content in coffee and instant coffee brands widely available in the Libyan market. Results: showed that a percentage of participants experienced gastrointestinal symptoms after consuming coffee; however, no statistically significant association was observed between the type of coffee or its consumption pattern and abdominal pain. The improvement in symptoms after reducing coffee consumption varied among the participants. Additionally, the caffeine content of the six types of coffee commonly available in the western Libyan market was analysed. Essam coffee was found to contain 1.82% caffeine, Yemen coffee 1.19%, and Khalid coffee 1.28%. As for Nescafé, we used its caffeine content, which was 3.31% for Recharge, 1.13% for Napoli, and 2.66% for Stella. Conclusion: The effect of coffee on gastrointestinal symptoms appears to be individual rather than general, as no statistically significant relationship was observed within the study sample.
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