An Army Scientist Is Working on a Formula for Optimal Caffeine Intake Setting a schedule can make all the difference in how much caffeine you actually need and how it affects you.

By Lydia Belanger

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Dave and Les Jacobs | Getty Images

For those with demanding schedules that frequently infringe upon a full night's sleep, chugging coffee or energy drinks is often the cure to drowsiness. You've probably poured yourself a third, fourth, fifth cup of joe at some point and thought, is this even helping?

You might associate coffee binges with office workers or business leaders rushing from meeting to meeting, but members of the military also run on the stuff. That's why U.S. Army researcher Jaques Reifman has set out to crack the code of how much coffee we truly need when we're sleep deprived -- and at what intervals.

His research, summarized by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, shows promise for optimizing caffeine intake, taking into account metabolic or other physiological differences from person to person.

Related: Is Caffeine Boosting or Sabotaging Your Productivity?

Reifman studied how sleep loss and caffeine consumption influence performance on "psychomotor vigilance tasks" -- tasks which measure response time, or alertness. He then devised an algorithm to inform individuals of how much caffeine to consume, and when to consume it throughout the day, to maximize their alertness.

To use the algorithm, each person inputs information about their sleep schedule and the maximum amount of caffeine they'd like to consume or that they normally consume. From there, the algorithm tells them how much to consume and when.

Reifman has found that following the recommendations of his algorithm can increase a person's alertness by 64 percent if they're consuming the same amount of caffeine as they normally would, but on a strategic schedule. On the other hand, for those who want to cut back, he's also found that individuals can drink up to 65 percent less caffeine than normal, but on an algorithmically generated schedule, and experience the same level of alertness as they would with their normal dosage, sans schedule.

If you're interested in trying the formula for yourself, there's good news: the Army intends to license the technology, Quartz reports. Right now though, only soliders in training are reaping its benefits.
Lydia Belanger is a former associate editor at Entrepreneur. Follow her on Twitter: @LydiaBelanger.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Innovation

4 Ways Market Leaders Use Innovation to Foster Business Growth

Forward-thinkers constantly strive to diversify and streamline their products and services, turning novelties into commodities desired by many.

Business News

A Company That Made $50M Selling Side Hustle Courses on AI Book Writing Is Under Federal Investigation

Publishing.com, which sells courses and tools for generating AI-written books, is under investigation for alleged aggressive sales tactics, according to a new report.

Growing a Business

Embracing Fear Fueled this Michelin-Rated Chef's Comeback

Josh Kopel, host of the 'FULL COMP' podcast, talks about making hospitality media, the benefits of scarcity and elevating the restaurant industry.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Social Media

What to Do If TikTok Is Banned — Protect Your Brand With This 5-Step Action Plan

Here are some actionable strategies to help creators and entrepreneurs safeguard their brands from the potential TikTok ban.