Caffeine laced gum we need a stick of that! But is it something you really shouldn't chew?

This research tested caffeine-laced gum on soldiers involved in a long-duration field test with limited sleep. The solders were allowed to sleep for four hours during the day, then work the remaining hours including night. Those who were given the caffeine gum performed better on the field vigilance tests over several days.

R. Kamimori said because the caffeine is delivered in the gum, it gives an instantaneous wakeup. Although the gum is not commercially available yet, Kamimori said the implications are great for those who have to stay awake and alert at night such as long-haul truck drivers.

Also, Kamimori said the gum did not alter sleep patterns once the soldiers were allowed to sleep. Overall they got 8% less sleep after the gum, but he said that is not that drastic a difference for most soldiers.

Caffeine Maintains Vigilance during a 74-Hour Field Test with Limited Sleep by G. Kamimori, R. Reichart, D. Voss, C. Tate, T. McLellan, S. Smith and H. Lieberman was presented at Sleep 2007, the 21st annual meeting of the Association Professional Sleep Professionals Societies, LLC.