Caffeine Consumption in a Group of Adolescents from South East Poland-A Cross Sectional Study.

Ewa Błaszczyk-Bębenek,Małgorzata Schlegel-Zawadzka,Paweł Jagielski

doi:10.3390/nu13062084

Abstract

Caffeine is the most common psychoactive substance available to adults, as well as to children and adolescents. The safety of its use in younger age groups requires further research. The aim of this study was to evaluate caffeine intake, to identify products and drinks that are the main sources of caffeine intake in the diet of the subjects and the risk of excessive caffeine intake with the diet of adolescents, stratified by gender. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 508 adolescents aged 16–18 years from southern Poland. Black tea, cola-based soft drinks and milk chocolate were the most frequently consumed products containing caffeine in the diet of the examined persons. The average caffeine intake was 95.54 mg/day (1.54 mg/kg b.w.). In 12.2% of the subjects the dose of 3 mg/kg b.w./day was exceeded, and in over 41.3% the dose causing sleep disorders was exceeded. The dose causing anxiety was also exceeded in 18.1% of the respondents, significantly more often in girls than boys (p = 0.0487).

Highlights

Nutrients 2021, 13, 2084. https://Caffeine is one of the best-described stimulants in the world and the products that are its source in the diet are popular among adults and younger age groups [1]
Some recent reports on caffeine safety presented by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) [5] are slightly more restrictive in relation to the 2003 report published by Nawrot et al [8]
Caffeine consumption by adolescents is associated with sleep disorders, which may lead to learning and concentration difficulties, or even an increased risk of obesity [11]

Summary

Introduction

Nutrients 2021, 13, 2084. https://Caffeine is one of the best-described stimulants in the world and the products that are its source in the diet are popular among adults and younger age groups [1]. Recent studies have confirmed the safety of coffee consumption by adults, consumed in the form of hot drinks [1,2]. The sources of caffeine in the diet do include drinks such as coffee or tea, drugs and dietary supplements, and energy drinks or chocolate, popular among the youth [6,7]. A new study by Temple et al revealed that caffeine consumption was associated with risky behaviors undertaken by children and adolescents, regardless of gender [9], as well as the increased consumption of sweet soft drinks among girls [10]. Caffeine consumption by adolescents is associated with sleep disorders, which may lead to learning and concentration difficulties, or even an increased risk of obesity [11].

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