The Dangers of Childhood Caffeine Consumption
Photo Credit: woodleywonderworks - first cup of coffee via photopin (license)
As many of us already know, caffeine can be found in a wide variety of foods and drinks. However, did you know that adults AND children consume daily caffeine amounts ranging from a 12 oz. can of pop to 2 cups of coffee?
Prior studies have linked everyday caffeine use to an increase of cardiovascular related issues (e.g. decreased heart rate and increased blood pressure) in adults, but these effects have not been well studied in children and young adults. Therefore, in the hopes of finding answers, six health professionals from the University of Buffalo decided that it was time to examine the cardiovascular effects of caffeine in the adolescent community.
A total of ninety-five minors participated in this study: 26 males, 24 females (8-9 years old) and 26 males, 20 females (15-17 years old). After the youngsters and their parents completed a Caffeine Use Questionnaire, the study claimed that those between the ages of 15-17 were more likely to drink caffeinated beverages, such as soda (93%), tea (87%), coffee (35%), and energy drinks (28%), compared to the younger population who mainly consumed soda (78%) or tea (64%). The collected data also reported that postpubertal boys ingested more caffeine than girls in the same age range.
But what does all of this juvenile caffeine use mean in terms of heart rate and blood pressure?
The analysts noted that all of the adolescent participants had a decrease in heart rate after drinking caffeine; however, although there was no change in systolic blood pressure (measures pressure in arteries) in the 8-9 year old group after caffeine was consumed, there was a considerable gender-based difference after children experienced puberty.
As a result of these findings, the health professionals concluded that the cardiovascular effects of caffeine differ depending on gender, pubertal group, and caffeine dose.
Here are a few additional key points from their study:
Although there were two doses of caffeine used (10 mg/mL and 20 mg/mL; comparable to caffeine content in 12-oz soda), there were no significant differences in heart rate or blood pressure measurements.
During pubertal development, the metabolising of caffeine can affect hormones which, in turn, can cause diverse and possibly unfavorable cardiovascular responses.
Caffeine consumption affects the menstrual cycle of postpubertal girls:
During the luteal phase (after ovulation to when period begins), the team observed decreased heart rates among the young women; systolic blood pressure levels were also recorded to be lower than usual and more pronounced during the follicular phase, or before ovulation.
So, what’s the bottom line on the cardiovascular effects of adolescent caffeine use?
Evidence connecting gender, pubertal development, and caffeine consumption to changes in heart rate and blood pressure has been uncovered; however, additional investigations need to be conducted to fully understand the connection between changes in the cardiovascular system and childhood caffeine use.
Bonus Material
Check out this report from NBC news on the FDA's plan to examine caffeine's impact on children (Posted June 26, 2015).
Video Credit: Kristin Kirkpatrick via YouTube
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Source: Temple, Jennifer L., Amanda M. Ziegler, Adam Graczyk, Ashley Bendlin, Teresa Sion, and Karina Vattana. “Cardiovascular Responses to Caffeine by Gender and Pubertal Stage” Pediatrics: Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, e112-e118. 16 June 2014. Retrieved from: doi: 10.1542/peds.2013-3962. [http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2014/06/10/peds.2013-3962.full.pdf+html]