Determination of Caffeine Contents in Soft Drinks by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Method

Year 2025, Volume: 23 Issue: 3, 203 - 209, 30.09.2025

Elif Sine Düvenci , Pınar Karagül , Bora Karagül

https://doi.org/10.24323/akademik-gida.1792609

Abstract

Soft drinks have evolved from traditional herbal tinctures into scientifically formulated beverages designed to enhance physical and mental performance. In this study, caffeine, the primary active ingredient in soft drinks, was analyzed using the HPLC-UV method across 15 different commercial products in Türkiye. The caffeine content of most soft drinks was below the legal limit of 150 µg/mL, and caffeine was not detected in some products, and a single drink contained caffeine slightly above the legal limit. For example, Brands 1, 4 and 7 had the caffeine contents of 131.72, 154.38 and 714.64 µg/mL, respectively. The ability of caffeine to block adenosine receptors and enhance intracellular cAMP levels boosts its performance-enhancing effects, including improved endurance, increased alertness, and accelerated fat metabolism. However, risks associated with high-dose consumption, such as elevated blood pressure and reduced ergogenic benefits at doses above 9 mg/kg, require the need for moderated use. This study aims to determine the caffeine content of a variety of energy drinks sold in Turkey and compare these levels against legal thresholds. In addition, it presents validation data for the HPLC method to confirm analytical reliability.

Keywords

Caffeine , Ergogenic effect , Health risks , HPLC , Soft drinks

Yüksek Performanslı Sıvı Kromatografi (HPLC) Yöntemi ile Meşrubatlarda Kafein İçeriğinin Belirlenmesi

Abstract

Gazlı içecekler (meşrubatlar), geleneksel bitkisel tentürlerden fiziksel ve zihinsel performansı artırmak için tasarlanmış bilimsel olarak formüle edilmiş içeceklere dönüşmüştür. Bu çalışmada, gazlı içeceklerin birincil aktif bileşeni olan kafein, Türkiye’deki 15 farklı ticari ürün üzerinden HPLC-UV yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir. Çoğu gazlı içeceğin kafein içeriği, yasal sınır olan 150 µg/mL’nin altında bulunmuş, bazı ürünlerde ise kafein tespit edilmemiştir ve tek bir içecekte kafein seviyesi yasal sınırın biraz üzerinde çıkmıştır. Örneğin, 1., 4. ve 7. markaların kafein içerikleri sırasıyla 131,72, 154,38 ve 714,64 µg/mL olarak belirlenmiştir. Kafeinin adenozin reseptörlerini bloke etme ve hücre içi cAMP seviyelerini artırma yeteneği, dayanıklılığın artması, uyanıklığın artması ve yağ metabolizmasının hızlanması gibi performans artırıcı etkilerinin temelini oluşturmaktadır. Ancak, 9 mg/kg’ın üzerindeki dozlarda kan basıncının yükselmesi ve ergojenik faydaların azalması gibi yüksek doz tüketimiyle ilişkili riskler, ölçülü kullanım ihtiyacını gerektirmektedir. Bu çalışma, Türkiye’de satılan çeşitli gazlı içeceklerin kafein içeriğini belirlemeyi ve bu seviyeleri yasal sınırlarla karşılaştırmayı amaçlamaktadır. Ayrıca, analitik güvenilirliği doğrulamak için HPLC yöntemiyle ilgili doğrulama verilerini sunmaktadır.

Keywords

Kafein , Ergojenik etki , Sağlık riskleri , HPLC , Meşrubatlar

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