Kids and Caffeine: Overall Consumption Rates Still High

A recent study looks at a rather surprising trend among many young individuals. Statistics show that while many children may be skipping out on soda, they are unfortunately, still getting caffeine through out drinks that could be just as detrimental to their health. As too much of this stimulant can increase heart rate and blood pressure in addition to increase anxiety, little is still known about how it may impact children who consume it later on in life.

For this study, researchers examined dietary data from 1999 to 2010 NHANES. They found that a shocking 73 percent of children consumed caffeine on any given day. Worse still, they found that the sources of caffeine often changed over time for young children.

What's particularly worrisome about the findings is that overall, the amount of caffeine children consumed did not change. For instance, though many chose to have less soda, some took up more energy drinks and coffee-which made up for any caffeine missing from the other products. These findings raise particular concerns about the sources of caffeine in children's diets and how it could potentially cause concern for many later in life.

Fox News notes that this analysis is actually the first to examine recent national trends regarding caffeine intake among children and young adults. Since caffeine can be found in just about everything, the FDA is hoping to investigate the safety of the stimulant in both drink and food products.

"We have to address the fundamental question of the potential consequences of all these caffeinated products in the food supply to children and to some adults who may be at risk from excess caffeine consumption," said Michael R. Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine at FDA, via a press release. 

What do you think?

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Pediatrics.