Theobromine is dangerous

Theobromine is a purine alkaloid widely consumed in cocoa based foods and other consumed drinks. Most of the population must be exposed to this compound. [1,2] Theobromine may have somewhat health benefits or even therapeutic values. Usmani OS and co-workers from Imperial College London demonstrated that theobromine effectively inhibits citric acid-induced cough in guinea-pigs in vivo. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of man, theobromine suppressed capsaicin-induced cough with no adverse effects. [3] A test-tube study showed that caffeine, theobromine and xanthine exhibited both antioxidant and prooxidant effects. Based on this study, one may think that caffeine and its metabolites may also contribute to the overall antioxidant and chemopreventive properties of caffeine-bearing beverages, such as tea. [4]

However, prolonged excessive consumption may not be a good idea; it may lead to serious side effects. In 2001, Jansson DS from National Veterinary Institute, Sweden, reported a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and a European badger (Meles meles) were found dead on a golf-course in October 1997 near Stockholm (Sweden). At necropsy, both animals were obese and the main finding was acute circulatory collapse. Theobromine intoxication was suspected as chocolate waste was available at a nearby farm and no other cause of death could be detected. Theobromine and caffeine were detected in gastric contents and theobromine was identified in the liver samples from both animals. [5]

It has been found theobromine is potentially toxic to their reproductive organ. Slattery ML, West DW. from University of Utah School of Medicine reviewed 362 cases of prostate cancer, they found a possible association between prostate cancer and theobromine. [7]

Theobromine is also known to cross the placental and blood brain barrier thus potentially inducing fetal malformation by affecting the expression of genes vital in development. [1] Theobromine has been found to cause chromosome abnormalities in plant cells and in mammalian cells in culture, and it has anti-mitotic activity. It is fairly potent mutagens in Escherichia coli and other lower organisms. It was reported the E. coli was not able to demethylate this compound. [2]

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