Children and Caffeine

Dr. Brett Parkinson with Mountain Medical reveals some possible consequences.

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Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance found in plants (cocoa and coffee beans), tea leaves and kola nuts. Made artificially, it is a stimulant that is added to certain foods and beverages. Caffeine is one of the world’s most popular drugs, consumed by 90% of the population.

EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE:

• Increased alertness

• Improved attention and concentration

• Enhanced energy

• Reduced fatigue

Although it’s not practical, or even possible to keep our children from injecting caffeine, we should restrict its use, especially in younger children. The United States does not have official guidelines for caffeine consumption in children, but Canada does. Perhaps we can learn something from our neighbors to the north.

CANADIAN GUIDELINES FOR CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION IN CHILDREN:

• 4-6 years 45 mg/day

• 7-9 years 62.5 mg/day

• 10-12 years 85mg/day

ADULT GUIDELINES:

• General Population 400 mg/day

• Breast Feeding Mothers 300mg/day

Although caffeine is a naturally occurring substance, it is considered a drug because it stimulates the central nervous system. Too much caffeine can actually produce adverse side effects.

EFFECTS OF TOO MUCH CAFFEINE:

• Jitteriness and nervousness

• Upset stomach

• Headache

• Difficulty concentrating

• Insomnia

• Increased Heart Rate

• Elevated Blood Pressure

There are other reasons to limit a child’s caffeine intake. Caffeine is a diuretic that causes the body to lose water through urination, which may lead to dehydration. Parents should be extra cautious in hot weather.

Caffeine can aggravate heart problems or nervous system disorders, and often parents may not even know their children are at risk.

Caffeine usually accompanies empty calories. Consumption of one 12-ounce can of a sweetened soft drink/day can increase a child’s risk of obesity by 60%. Children can also experience withdrawal symptoms: headaches, muscles aches, temporary depression and irritability. Caffeine may also decrease a child’s ability to perform tasks involving delicate muscular coordination, mental calculations or accurate timing.

High-dose consumption can lead to toxic effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, muscle twitching and agitation. Severe caffeine toxicity may result in seizures or increased and/or irregular heart beat.
One thing caffeine does not do is stunt growth. This old supposition is not supported by scientific research.
In order to limit a child’s caffeine consumption, parents should know which foods, beverages, and medicines contain caffeine.

The following is a list provided by the Food and Drug Administration and the National Soft Drink Association:

If you think your child is “over-caffeinated,” it’s time to intervene, by slowly cutting back caffeine consumption. Otherwise, he or she may get headaches or suffer some of the other abrupt withdrawal symptoms–drowsiness, depression and muscle aches. Substitute non-caffeinated drinks for caffeinated soft drinks and coffee. Keep track of how many caffeine-containing drinks your child consumes, cutting consumption by one drink per week. So if your child consumes 4 sodas a day, it will take you three weeks to withdraw. At first, your child will be tired. Not to worry. Energy levels will soon return to normal.

When caffeine is added to foods and beverages in the United States, it must appear in the list of ingredients on the label. However, manufacturers are not required to list the amount of caffeine.

NOTE OF CAUTION: Many teenagers are turning to Sports/Energy drinks to enhance performance. These are marketed specifically to people under 30, especially college and high school students. An 8.5 oz of Red Bull contains 80 mg of caffeine. Energy drinks should not be used while exercising, as the combination of fluid loss from swearing and the diuretic quality of the caffeine can cause severe dehydration. Energy drinks should not be mixed with alcohol. The stimulant effect can mask the effects of intoxication, leading people to believe they are not impaired. Since both alcohol and caffeine are very dehydrating, the combination can be dangerous. Dehydration hinders the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol, thus increasing its toxicity.

BOTTOM LINE: In moderation, caffeine is not thought to be harmful. Even in children. But since caffeine is a drug, and can be addictive, parents should be aware of the potential harmful side effects at higher-than-recommend doses.