A comparative study of Coffee, Ginseng, and Curcumin in increasing Dopamine

levels in blood

Dopamine is largely involved in the function of main organs in the body such as the
heart, muscle control, and ovulation. Like Serotonin and Norepinephrine, Dopamine also
works to promote well-being in humans by carrying important messages through the neural
pathway of the brain. However, low levels of such can cause mood swings and cognitive
problems. In this case, a person may feel depressed and worried. In a normal person’s
blood, there are about 0 to 30 pg/mL (195.8 pmol/L) of Dopamine.
Researchers founded that Coffee, Ginseng, and Curcumin can increase levels of
Dopamine in blood. They conducted a study of which of the three treatments is better in
increasing Dopamine levels. The following are data collected in terms of pmol/L:

Coffee Ginseng Curcumin

195 196 195
196 195 194
195 196 197
195.7 194 198
194.8 194.5 195
196.1 194.5 195.5
195 196 196.5
198 197 197
194 198 194
196 196.5 195.5
Summary for each Variance

Coffee Ginseng Curcumin

Mean 195.56 Mean 195.75 Mean 195.75

Standard Error 0.343252 Standard Error 0.396162 Standard Error 0.423281
Median 195.35 Median 196 Median 195.5
Mode 195 Mode 196 Mode 195
Standard Standard Standard
Deviation 1.085459 Deviation 1.252775 Deviation 1.338532
Sample Variance 1.178222 Sample Variance 1.569444 Sample Variance 1.791667
Kurtosis -0.53124 Kurtosis -0.92436
Kurtosis 2.288605
Skewness 0.291389 Skewness 0.238894
Skewness 1.096322
Range 4 Range 4
Range 4
Minimum 194 Minimum 194
Minimum 194 Maximum 198
Maximum 198 Maximum 198
Sum 1957.5 Sum 1957.5
Sum 1955.6 Count 10
Count 10 Count 10

Anova: Single Since F (0.079527) < F crit.

Factor (5.488117768), There is no
significant difference in the
SUMMARY increasing Dopamine levels in
Groups Count Sum Average Variance blood among the three
Coffee 10 1955.6 195.56 1.178222 treatments.
Ginseng 10 1957.5 195.75 1.569444 Either of the three extracts can
Curcumin 10 1957.5 195.75 1.791667 be used in increasing Dopamine
levels in blood
ANOVA
Source of
Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit
Between Groups 0.240667 2 0.120333333 0.079527 0.923769 5.488117768
Within Groups 40.854 27 1.513111111

Total 41.09467 29
 Since the results were not significant, the researchers decided to repeat measuring the
dopamine levels in blood to identify observational errors. The following are data collected in
terms of pmol/L:

Coffee Ginseng Curcumin

185 179 194.5
183 180 193
184 181 195
186.5 182 196
187 180 197
185 178 194
186 181 195
188 178 196
186 181 197
184 182 196
Summary for each Variance

Coffee Ginseng Curcumin

Mean 185.45 Mean 180.2 Mean 195.35

Standard Error 0.485626743 Standard Error 0.466666667 Standard Error 0.408588356
Median 185.5 Median 180.5 Median 195.5
Mode 185 Mode 181 Mode 196
Standard Standard Standard
Deviation 1.5356866 Deviation 1.475729575 Deviation 1.29206983
Sample Sample Sample
Variance 2.358333333 Variance 2.177777778 Variance 1.669444444
Kurtosis -0.63459758 Kurtosis -1.06495805 Kurtosis -0.44483740
Skewness 0.031063096 Skewness -0.42524798 Skewness -0.40758037
Range 5 Range 4 Range 4
Minimum 183 Minimum 178 Minimum 193
Maximum 188 Maximum 182 Maximum 197
Sum 1854.5 Sum 1802 Sum 1953.5
Count 10 Count 10 Count 10

Anova: Single Factor

Since F (286.110564) < F crit.
(5.488117768), There is a
SUMMARY significant difference in the
Groups Count Sum Average Variance increasing Dopamine levels in
Coffee 10 1854.5 185.45 2.358333333 blood among the three
Ginseng 10 1802 180.2 2.177777778 treatments.
Curcumin 10 1953.5 195.35 1.669444444 T-tests can be performed to
determine which of the three
treatments is most effective.
ANOVA
Source of P-
Variation SS df MS F value F crit
Between Groups 1183.65 2 591.825 286.110564 6.7E-19 5.488117768
Within Groups 55.85 27 2.068518519

Total 1239.5 29
Coffee vs. Ginseng
t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal Variances

Coffee Ginseng
Mean 185.45 180.2
Variance 2.358333333 2.177777778
Observations 10 10
Pooled Variance 2.268055556
Hypothesized Mean Difference 0
df 18
t Stat 7.795024085
P(T<=t) one-tail 1.76985E-07
t Critical one-tail 2.55237963
P(T<=t) two-tail 3.5397E-07
t Critical two-tail 2.878440473

Since t Stat (7.795024085) > t Critical (2.878440473), There is a significant difference

between the two treatments in increasing dopamine levels in blood. Coffee is more effective
than Ginseng; therefore coffee should be used in increasing dopamine levels in blood.

Coffee vs. Curcumin

t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal Variances

Coffee Curcumin
Mean 185.45 195.35
Variance 2.358333333 1.669444444
Observations 10 10
Pooled Variance 2.013888889
Hypothesized Mean Difference 0
df 18
t Stat -15.59920422
P(T<=t) one-tail 3.34057E-12
t Critical one-tail 2.55237963
P(T<=t) two-tail 6.68113E-12
t Critical two-tail 2.878440473

Since t Stat (-15.59920422) > t Critical (2.878440473), There is a significant difference

between the two treatments in increasing dopamine levels in blood. Curcumin is more
effective than Coffee; therefore Curcumin should be used in increasing dopamine levels in
blood.
Ginseng vs. Curcumin
t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal Variances

Ginseng Curcumin
Mean 180.2 195.35
Variance 2.177777778 1.669444444
Observations 10 10
Pooled Variance 1.923611111
Hypothesized Mean Difference 0
df 18
t Stat -24.42524882
P(T<=t) one-tail 1.49009E-15
t Critical one-tail 2.55237963
P(T<=t) two-tail 2.98018E-15
t Critical two-tail 2.878440473

Since t Stat (-24.42524882) > t Critical (2.878440473), There is a significant difference

between the two treatments in increasing dopamine levels in blood. Curcumin is more
effective than Ginseng; therefore Curcumin should be used in increasing dopamine levels in
blood.

Among the three treatments, Curcumin is more effective than Ginseng and Coffee;
Therefore, Curcumin should be used in increasing dopamine levels in blood.