Coffee doesn’t improve awareness, new study reveals

BRISTOL, ENGLAND (BNO NEWS) – The millions who depend on coffee to kick start their day may be just counteracting the effects of caffeine withdrawal, according to a new study released from Bristol University on Wednesday, the Guardian reported.

Infrequent coffee drinkers don't do much better when they reach for a cup during emergencies. They'll typically suffer from heightened feelings of anxiety and withdrawal the next day.

"Someone who consumes caffeine regularly when they're at work but not at weekends runs the risk of feeling a bit rubbish by Sunday," said Peter Rogers, who led the research at Bristol University. "It's better to stick with it or keep off it altogether."

Blood samples were taken from 379 people who were requested to avoid caffeine for the next sixteen hours. After that, they were given a caffeine pill or a placebo. Results showed that caffeine did not have any effect on the alertness level of the subjects.

The research is significant and notable because compared to previous studies, the study has a large sample size compared to previous studies.

"It's an interesting piece of evidence, and a very ambitious study," said Lorenzo Stafford, a psychologist at the University of Portsmouth. "Getting the DNA samples of so many participants is a huge effort."

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