Caffeine intake in children in the United States and 10-y trends: 2001–20101234

https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.113.082172Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

ABSTRACT

Background:

Because of the increasing concern of the potential adverse effects of caffeine intake in children, recent estimates of caffeine consumption in a representative sample of children are needed.

Objectives:

We provide estimates of caffeine intake in children in absolute amounts (mg) and in relation to body weight (mg/kg) to examine the association of caffeine consumption with sociodemographic factors and describe trends in caffeine intake in children in the United States.

Design:

We analyzed caffeine intake in 3280 children aged 2–19 y who participated in a 24-h dietary recall as part of the NHANES, which is a nationally representative survey of the US population with a cross-sectional design, in 2009–2010. Trends over time between 2001 and 2010 were examined in 2–19-y-old children (n = 18,530). Analyses were conducted for all children and repeated for caffeine consumers.

Results:

In 2009–2010, 71% of US children consumed caffeine on a given day. Median caffeine intakes for 2–5-, 6–11-, and 12–19-y olds were 1.3, 4.5, and 13.6 mg, respectively, and 4.7, 9.1, and 40.6 mg, respectively, in caffeine consumers. Non-Hispanic black children had lower caffeine intake than that of non-Hispanic white counterparts. Caffeine intake correlated positively with age; this association was independent of body weight. On a given day, 10% of 12–19-y-olds exceeded the suggested maximum caffeine intake of 2.5 mg/kg by Health Canada. A significant linear trend of decline in caffeine intake (in mg or mg/kg) was noted overall for children aged 2–19 y during 2001–2010. Specifically, caffeine intake declined by 3.0 and 4.6 mg in 2–5- and 6–11-y-old caffeine consumers, respectively; no change was noted in 12–19-y-olds.

Conclusion:

A majority of US children including preschoolers consumed caffeine. Caffeine intake was highest in 12–19-y-olds and remained stable over the 10-y study period in this age group.

Cited by (0)

1

From the Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, Hyattsville, MD (NA and KH); the National Center for Environmental Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA (MR); and the Food Surveys Research Group, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center–Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, MD (AM).

2

Findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the National Center for Health Statistics, CDC.

3

This work was not supported by any external grant.

4

Address correspondence to N Ahluwalia, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, 3311 Toledo Road, Room 4110, Hyattsville, MD 20782. E-mail: [email protected].

5

Abbreviations used: CSFII, Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals; MEC, mobile examination center; PIR, poverty income ratio; SIP, Share of Intake Panel.