The characteristics of caffeine intake in Croatian university students

Abstract Background Excessive caffeine intake combined with increasing numbers and availability of caffeine-containing products in modern societies are causes for concern. University students may be at increased risk of excessive caffeine consumption due to seeking caffeinated products with well-known wakefulness effects and cognitive benefits. This study aimed to highlight the characteristics of caffeine consumption among Croatian university students. Methods This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted from May 2020 to April 2021 period. A validated, anonymous questionnaire that contained questions regarding demographic data, data about caffeine consumption habits, and its sources was self-administered via an online link to a cross-faculty representative student sample of the University of Osijek in Eastern Croatia. Results The study sample included 1197 subjects with, median age of 22 years (interquartile range 21-24), 24.1% males, and 75.9% females. The median caffeine intake was 512.0 mg/day (interquartile range 228.0-972.0). The higher caffeine intake was observed in part-time students (p = 0.026), students who were preparing for exams during the participation in this study (p = 0.010), and students who smoked cigarettes (p < 0.001). There was a poor positive correlation between the amount of caffeine intake and academic success connected with caffeine consumption (rs = 0.225; p < 0.001). There were fair positive correlations between the amount of caffeine intake and caffeine consumption because of the avoidance of the withdrawal symptoms (rs = 0.490; p < 0.001) and between the amount of caffeine intake and knowledge of the impact of caffeine consumption on the occurrence of social conflicts (rs = 0.349; p < 0.001). Conclusions The study revealed high caffeine intake among Croatian university students. The implementation of specific preventive measures directed toward the protection of students’ health from adverse health effects related to caffeine is needed. Key messages • Croatian university students have displayed high caffeine intake in their everyday life. • There is a need for the implementation of specific preventive measures directed toward the protection of students’ health from adverse health effects related to caffeine consumption.


Background:
The timing of eating, chrono-nutrition, is a relatively new research area, where the focus is not on only what we eat but also when we eat and of irregularity between days. Chrononutrition have been associated with cardiovascular risk factors among adults. Societal factors influence the chrono-nutrition, but there is limited research on how different socioeconomic factors are associated with chrono-nutrition, especially among children. The aim of this study is to examine the association between parental socioeconomic status and irregularity of children's energy intake.

Methods:
We used data from the DAGIS (Increased Health and Wellbeing in Preschools) study in years 2015-2016, in which 864 preschool children participated (age 3-6 years old). Childreń s dietary intake was measured by a 3-day food record. We included only children that had complete data from all three days and the child was at day care on two of those days and one day was a weekend day (n = 568). To calculate the irregularity score, the absolute difference between the daily energy intake and 3-day mean intake for each three days was divided by the 3-day mean energy intake, multiplied by 100 and then averaged over the 3 days; this served as a measure of irregularity of energy intake, with a low score indicating a more regular energy intake and a higher more irregular energy intake. The parents reported highest parental educational level and household income on a questionnaire. The associations were tested by general linear models on SPSS.

Results:
No association was found between parental educational level or household income with irregularity of children's energy intake.

Conclusions:
There was no association between parental socioeconomic status and children's irregularity of energy intake. Other aspects of children's chrono-nutrition should also be tested to be able to conclude that children's chrono-nutrition is not influenced by parental socioeconomic status. Key messages: We found no association between parental socioeconomic status and irregularity in children's energy intake. Chrono-nutrition among children is under-examined.

Background:
Excessive caffeine intake combined with increasing numbers and availability of caffeine-containing products in modern societies are causes for concern. University students may be at increased risk of excessive caffeine consumption due to seeking caffeinated products with well-known wakefulness effects and cognitive benefits. This study aimed to highlight the characteristics of caffeine consumption among Croatian university students.

Methods:
This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted from May 2020 to April 2021 period. A validated, anonymous questionnaire that contained questions regarding demographic data, data about caffeine consumption habits, and its sources was self-administered via an online link to a cross-faculty representative student sample of the University of Osijek in Eastern Croatia.

Results:
The study sample included 1197 subjects with, median age of 22 years (interquartile range 21-24), 24.1% males, and 75.9% females. The median caffeine intake was 512.0 mg/day (interquartile range 228.0-972.0). The higher caffeine intake was observed in part-time students (p = 0.026), students who were preparing for exams during the participation in this study (p = 0.010), and students who smoked cigarettes (p < 0.001).
There was a poor positive correlation between the amount of caffeine intake and academic success connected with caffeine consumption (rs = 0.225; p < 0.001). There were fair positive correlations between the amount of caffeine intake and caffeine consumption because of the avoidance of the withdrawal symptoms (rs = 0.490; p < 0.001) and between the amount of caffeine intake and knowledge of the impact of caffeine consumption on the occurrence of social conflicts (rs = 0.349; p < 0.001).

Conclusions:
The study revealed high caffeine intake among Croatian university students. The implementation of specific preventive measures directed toward the protection of students' health from adverse health effects related to caffeine is needed. Key messages: Croatian university students have displayed high caffeine intake in their everyday life. There is a need for the implementation of specific preventive measures directed toward the protection of students' health from adverse health effects related to caffeine consumption.