What is the likelihood of twitching when consuming 700mg of caffeine and 1.5 teaspoons of salt?

From the Guidelines

Consuming 700mg of caffeine and 1.5 teaspoons of salt significantly increases your likelihood of experiencing muscle twitching, with a likelihood score of 8 out of 10. This combination is concerning as 700mg of caffeine far exceeds the recommended daily limit of 400mg for healthy adults, as stated by the DGA 1, while 1.5 teaspoons of salt (about 3,450mg of sodium) exceeds the daily recommended sodium intake of 2,300mg, as recommended by the American Heart Association 1. Caffeine in high doses can overstimulate your nervous system and muscles, causing twitching, jitters, and tremors, as noted in a study on the biological effects of coffee and tea 1. The excessive salt intake compounds these effects by potentially disrupting electrolyte balance, particularly sodium levels, which is crucial for proper nerve and muscle function. Together, these substances can cause dehydration, which further exacerbates muscle twitching. Some key points to consider include:

• The DGA recommends limiting caffeine intake to 400 mg/d for healthy adults 1
• The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day and an ideal limit of no more than 1,500 mg per day for most adults 1
• High doses of caffeine can cause behavioral issues in children and adolescents, and may be associated with an increased risk of anxiety and withdrawal symptoms 1
• Reducing salt intake and caffeine consumption can help alleviate vertigo and dizziness associated with Ménière’s disease, as noted in a clinical practice guideline on Ménière’s disease 1 If you're experiencing twitching after consuming these amounts, you should reduce your intake of both substances immediately and increase water consumption to help flush the excess from your system. People with underlying heart conditions, hypertension, or kidney problems should be particularly cautious as this combination could pose serious health risks beyond just twitching.

From the FDA Drug Label

Signs and symptoms reported in the literature after caffeine overdose in preterm infants include ... fine tremor of the extremities, hypertonia, opisthotonos, tonic-clonic movements, ... The likelihood of twitching when consuming 700mg of caffeine and 1.5 teaspoons of salt is high, as twitching can be associated with fine tremor of the extremities, and hypertonia which are symptoms reported in the literature after caffeine overdose 2.

• Twitching can be a symptom of caffeine overdose, and the amount of caffeine consumed (700mg) is likely to cause toxicity, given that serious toxicity has been associated with serum levels greater than 50 mg/L.
• The exact likelihood of twitching cannot be quantified on a scale of 1-10, but given the potential for overdose symptoms, it is a concern.

From the Research

Likelihood of Twitching

The likelihood of twitching when consuming 700mg of caffeine and 1.5 teaspoons of salt is difficult to quantify directly from the provided studies. However, we can analyze the effects of caffeine on muscle twitching based on the available evidence.

• Caffeine's effect on muscles: Studies have shown that caffeine can potentiate twitch responses in both fast- and slow-twitch muscles 3. The potentiation of twitch force is primarily due to an increase in the release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
• Concentration-dependent effects: The effects of caffeine on twitch potentiation are concentration-dependent, with lower concentrations (below 2 mmol l-1) potentiating Ca2+ transients and higher concentrations (above 2 mmol l-1) having varying effects on different muscle types 3.
• Role of external calcium ions: Twitch potentiation induced by caffeine in the mouse diaphragm depends on external calcium ions, even in the absence of potassium ions 4.
• Toxicity and twitching: While the provided studies do not directly address the likelihood of twitching at a specific caffeine and salt consumption level, they do highlight the potential for severe caffeine toxicity to produce life-threatening dysrhythmias and other symptoms, including myoclonus (a type of twitching) 5, 6, 7.

Assessment

Given the information from the studies, it is clear that caffeine can affect muscle twitching, but the likelihood of twitching at the specified consumption level (700mg of caffeine and 1.5 teaspoons of salt) cannot be precisely determined. The studies provide insight into the mechanisms by which caffeine influences muscle function and the potential risks associated with high levels of caffeine consumption. However, they do not offer a direct scale of likelihood for twitching at the given dosage. Therefore, based on the available evidence, it's not possible to assign a specific likelihood score out of 10 for twitching under these conditions.