Editing Theobromine (section)

==Effects==
{{see also|Theobromine poisoning}}

===Humans===
Theobromine is a heart stimulator and [[diuretic]] but has no significant stimulant effect on the human central nervous system.<ref name=pubchem/> It is a [[bronchodilator]] and causes relaxation of [[vascular smooth muscle]].<ref name=pubchem/> It is available as a [[prescription drug]] in South Korea.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.health.kr/searchDrug/result_drug.asp?drug_cd=A11AKP08G4675|title=Anycough Cap 300mg|publisher=Korea Pharmaceutical Information Center|access-date=8 January 2025|archive-date=8 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808134400/https://www.health.kr/searchDrug/result_drug.asp?drug_cd=A11AKP08G4675|url-status=live}}</ref> The amount of theobromine found in chocolate is small enough that chocolate can, in general, be safely consumed by humans.

Compared with caffeine, theobromine is weaker in both its inhibition of [[cyclic nucleotide]] [[phosphodiesterases]] and its [[Receptor antagonist|antagonism]] of [[adenosine receptors]].<ref name=pubchem/><ref name="therapeutics">{{cite book | veditors = Hardman J, Limbird L | title=Goodman & Gilman's the pharmacological basis of therapeutics, 10th ed. | publisher=McGraw-Hill | location=New York | year=2001 | page=745 | isbn=978-0-07-135469-1}}</ref> The potential [[phosphodiesterase inhibitor]]y effect of theobromine is seen only at amounts much higher than what people normally would consume in a typical diet including chocolate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB01412|title=Theobromine|publisher=DrugBank.ca|access-date=3 November 2018|archive-date=13 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113075732/https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB01412|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Toxicity====
At doses of 0.8–1.5 g/day (50–100 g cocoa), sweating, trembling and severe headaches were noted, with limited mood effects found at 250&nbsp;mg/day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/r?dbs+hsdb%3A%40term+%40DOCNO+7332#permalink|title=3,7-Dimethylxanthine (Theobromine)|publisher=Toxnet, US National Library of Medicine|date=1 December 2017|access-date=13 November 2018|archive-date=7 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007145619/https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/r?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+7332#permalink|url-status=live}}</ref>

Also, chocolate may be a factor for [[heartburn]] in some people because theobromine may affect the [[Lower esophageal sphincter|esophageal sphincter]] muscle in a way that permits stomach acids to enter the [[esophagus]].<ref name="Latif">{{cite journal | vauthors = Latif R | title = Chocolate/cocoa and human health: a review | journal = The Netherlands Journal of Medicine | volume = 71 | issue = 2 | pages = 63–68 | date = March 2013 | pmid = 23462053 | url = http://www.njmonline.nl/getpdf.php?id=1269 }}</ref>

===Animals===
Theobromine is the reason chocolate is poisonous to dogs. Dogs and other animals that [[metabolize]] theobromine (found in chocolate) more slowly<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/toxicology/food_hazards/chocolate.html|title=Chocolate – Toxicology – Merck Veterinary Manual|access-date=23 December 2017|archive-date=12 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712005049/http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/toxicology/food_hazards/chocolate.html|url-status=live}}</ref> can succumb to theobromine poisoning from as little as {{cvt|50|g|oz}} of [[milk chocolate]] for a smaller dog and {{cvt|400|g|oz}}, or around nine {{convert|1.55|oz|order=flip|adj=on}} small milk chocolate bars, for an average-sized dog. The concentration of theobromine in dark chocolates (about {{cvt|10|g/kg}}) is up to 10 times that of milk chocolate ({{cvt|1|to|5|g/kg}}), meaning dark chocolate is far more toxic to dogs per unit weight or volume than milk chocolate.{{Cn|date=May 2024}}

The [[median lethal dose]] of theobromine for dogs is {{cvt|100|–|200|mg/kg|}}; therefore, a {{cvt|10|kg|}} dog would need to consume a minimum of {{cvt|200|g|}} of the most theobromine-rich ({{cvt|5|g/kg|}}) dark chocolate, or a maximum of {{cvt|1|kg|}} (of theobromine-rich milk chocolate), to have a 50% chance of receiving a lethal dose. However, even {{cvt|40|g|}} of milk chocolate may induce vomiting and diarrhea.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gwaltney-Brant |first1=Sharon |title=Chocolate Toxicosis in Animals |url=https://www.merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/food-hazards/chocolate-toxicosis-in-animals |website=Merck Veterinary Manual |publisher=Merck & Co., Inc. |access-date=24 December 2023}}</ref>

The same risk is reported for cats as well,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aspcapro.org/sites/pro/files/m-toxbrief_0201_0.pdf |title=Chocolate intoxication |vauthors=Gwaltney-Brant S |publisher=[[American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals|ASPCA]] |website=aspcapro.org |access-date=23 December 2017 |archive-date=8 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208145634/http://aspcapro.org/sites/pro/files/m-toxbrief_0201_0.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> although cats are less likely to ingest sweet food, as cats lack [[Sweetness#The sweetness receptor|sweet taste receptors]].<ref name=wired>{{cite magazine |url=https://wired.com/2013/02/the-poisonous-nature-of-chocolate |title=The Poisonous Chemistry of Chocolate |date=14 February 2013 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=12 March 2017 |archive-date=8 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208145832/https://www.wired.com/2013/02/the-poisonous-nature-of-chocolate/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Complications include digestive issues, dehydration, excitability, and a slow heart rate. Later stages of theobromine poisoning include [[epilepsy|epileptic]]-like [[seizure]]s and death. If caught early on, theobromine poisoning is treatable.<ref name="healthwatchcanines">{{cite news | title=HEALTH WATCH: How to Avoid a Canine Chocolate Catastrophe! | newspaper=The News Letter | location=Belfast, Northern Ireland | date=2005-03-01}}</ref> Although not common, the effects of theobromine poisoning can be fatal.<ref name="wired" />