Every time you scroll through Instagram, it seems like there’s a celebrity touting a new energy drink. In December, Alex Cooper introduced Unwell Energy. Stars like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Logan Paul have been part of this energy drink trend for some time. Now, Kim Kardashian is joining in with the relaunch of UPDATE, a beverage that uses paraxanthine, a lesser-known substitute for caffeine. (Kim has been a fan of this product since 2023, and their partnership has deepened this year, as noted by Forbes.)
Paraxanthine is a compound naturally produced in your body when you metabolize caffeine. Kim and her team appear enthusiastic about this ingredient. Hitting Walmart shelves on March 1, the lightly carbonated drinks claim to “eliminate the crash, jitters, and overstimulation” typically associated with regular caffeine energy drinks, while still offering “up to four hours of focused energy when you need it most.”
Meet the experts: Jordan Langhough, RD, a registered dietitian; Tiffany Ma, RDN, a sports performance dietitian based in NYC; and Leslie Bonci, RD, MPH, a sports dietitian from Pittsburgh.
But does paraxanthine truly deliver on its promises? Is it actually superior to caffeine? Here’s what the experts have to say.
What is paraxanthine?
Paraxanthine is the leading compound your body creates when you consume caffeine. Scientifically speaking, it’s a metabolite—essentially the product formed after caffeine is metabolized, just as you obtain amino acids from protein. “When you drink coffee or any caffeinated beverage, your liver metabolizes caffeine into three compounds: paraxanthine, theobromine, and theophylline,” explains Jordan Langhough, RD. “Of these three, paraxanthine is the most significant, making up about 70 to 80 percent of the caffeine metabolized in most individuals,” she adds. (In contrast, theobromine is the primary compound found in chocolate.)
Paraxanthine, like theobromine and theophylline, is a stimulant, according to Leslie Bonci, RD, MPH. In simpler terms, it’s the substance responsible for that invigorating, alert feeling you experience after your first cup of coffee. It accomplishes this by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain (adenosine is the chemical that makes you feel tired). By inhibiting adenosine, paraxanthine helps reduce fatigue and enhance alertness, according to Tiffany Ma, RDN.
Is paraxanthine better than caffeine?
There’s limited evidence suggesting paraxanthine is better than caffeine. In fact, they are quite similar since one is merely the metabolized form of the other. “It’s like a rose by any other name,” Bonci states. “Both are part of the same molecule; it’s semantic. Neither is superior nor inferior; both deliver the stimulant effect.”
Rather than being “better,” paraxanthine should be regarded as a potential alternative to caffeine. “From a dietitian’s viewpoint, paraxanthine is viewed as a promising substitute rather than a definitive upgrade,” Ma explains, but further research is needed.
It’s crucial to note that there isn’t a direct conversion between paraxanthine and caffeine, so caution is warranted. For instance, if you know you can handle a cup of coffee with 95 mg of caffeine or a can of Celsius with 200 mg, similar amounts of paraxanthine may yield different effects.
“A beverage may list a specific amount of paraxanthine, but that doesn’t equate to an equivalent caffeine dose, as they are different compounds,” Ma remarks. Current research suggests that doses ranging from 100 to 300 mg of paraxanthine provide noticeable effects for most individuals, with UPDATE hitting the upper limit at 300 mg. As with any energy drink, it’s advisable to start with a lower dosage to see how your body responds.
Potential health benefits of paraxanthine
The emerging interest surrounding paraxanthine is encouraging, yet it’s important to remain realistic. Compared to caffeine, paraxanthine lacks the extensive long-term research background. Most current data derive from animal studies, and we still need large-scale human studies to confidently verify all the expected benefits.
Nonetheless, some potential benefits of paraxanthine that experts are eager to explore include:
- Improved cognition: Paraxanthine may enhance focus, reaction time, and cognitive performance. A 2025 study involving 24 young adults published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition noted that doses of 200 and 300 mg of paraxanthine resulted in increased energy and productivity compared to placebo.
- Enhanced performance for athletes: As the main metabolite of caffeine, paraxanthine might help improve both exercise output and endurance, according to Langhough. A 2024 study published in the Journal of the International Sports Society of Nutrition found that 200 mg of paraxanthine taken before a 10K run improved cognitive functions, reduced attentional decline, alleviated cognitive fatigue, and enhanced reaction times, suggesting it could serve as a nootropic alternative to caffeine for athletes.
- Improved fat utilization for energy: A 2024 study on caffeine in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Reports indicates that paraxanthine could encourage lipolysis—the breakdown of fat into fatty acids—which might assist the body in using fat as energy during exercise.
With this in mind, it’s important to note that paraxanthine is still a stimulant, potentially causing side effects similar to caffeine, such as increased heart rate, anxiety, restlessness, and sleep disturbances—especially at higher doses, says Ma. Therefore, individuals who are pregnant, have heart conditions, or are sensitive to stimulants should consult a healthcare professional before trying it.
The other ingredients in UPDATE, explained
Alongside paraxanthine, UPDATE incorporates additional supporting ingredients.
- L-theanine: An amino acid found naturally in matcha and green tea, L-theanine is often combined with stimulants as it may foster a more relaxed yet alert sensation. Some have attempted to add it to their coffee to mitigate stress and jitters, though scientific backing for this practice is limited.
