Caffeine Consumption Prevalent in U.S. Children

Soda is the most popular source for children, but intake of coffee and energy drinks is increasing

MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many children in the United States consume caffeine on any given day, according to research published online Feb. 10 in Pediatrics.

Amy M. Branum, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Hyattsville, Md., and colleagues analyzed dietary recall data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys to examine trends in caffeine intake among U.S. children and adolescents.

The researchers found that about 73 percent of children reported consumption of caffeine on a given day. From 1999 to 2010, mean caffeine intake did not change overall, but it decreased significantly among children aged 2 to 11 years as well as Mexican-American children. Most caffeine intake in children was from consumption of soda, but the proportion of caffeine intake from soda declined significantly from 62 to 38 percent. The intake of caffeine from coffee increased significantly, from 10 percent in 1999 to 2000 to nearly 24 percent in 2009 to 2010. In 1999 to 2000, energy drinks were not available, but they accounted for nearly 6 percent of caffeine intake in children in 2009 to 2010.

"Additional research will be needed to continue to monitor these trends and to determine the role of increasing energy drink and coffee consumption on child and adolescent health," the authors write.

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