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More than just a stimulant
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Moderate amounts of caffeine stimulate the cardiovascular system and boost performance, making it popular, for example, in sports. Large amounts, however, can trigger anxiety, sweating, a racing heart, and even cardiac arrhythmia.
Excessive doses, for example via an overdose of highly concentrated caffeine powder, can potentially be fatal. Food supplements of this sort are freely available for purchase. In the case of highly concentrated loose powders, it is not possible to exactly measure out the nonharmful amount of 200 mgshort formilligram of caffeine using conventional methods such as a measuring spoon or kitchen scales.
Five to 10 grams of pure caffeine (equivalent to one to two teaspoons) can thus inadvertently cause severe or even fatal poisoning. In the BfR’s view, these effects of pure caffeine powder may be underestimated.
